diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAnimationRunner.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAnimationRunner.java
index 199cf63..75355c9 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAnimationRunner.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAnimationRunner.java
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@
 import com.android.systemui.shared.system.RemoteAnimationTargetCompat;
 
 @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.P)
-public abstract class LauncherAnimationRunner implements RemoteAnimationRunnerCompat,
-        WrappedAnimationRunnerImpl {
+public abstract class LauncherAnimationRunner implements RemoteAnimationRunnerCompat {
 
     private static final String TAG = "LauncherAnimationRunner";
 
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
index 0e32c95..2f55f14 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
@@ -41,7 +41,10 @@
 import com.android.launcher3.DeviceProfile;
 import com.android.launcher3.InvariantDeviceProfile;
 import com.android.launcher3.LauncherAnimationRunner;
+import com.android.launcher3.LauncherAnimationRunner.AnimationResult;
 import com.android.launcher3.R;
+import com.android.launcher3.WrappedAnimationRunnerImpl;
+import com.android.launcher3.WrappedLauncherAnimationRunner;
 import com.android.launcher3.anim.Interpolators;
 import com.android.launcher3.anim.PendingAnimation;
 import com.android.launcher3.compat.AccessibilityManagerCompat;
@@ -87,6 +90,9 @@
 
     private StateManager<RecentsState> mStateManager;
 
+    // Strong refs to runners which are cleared when the activity is destroyed
+    private WrappedAnimationRunnerImpl mActivityLaunchAnimationRunner;
+
     /**
      * Init drag layer and overview panel views.
      */
@@ -169,8 +175,11 @@
         }
 
         final TaskView taskView = (TaskView) v;
-        RemoteAnimationRunnerCompat runner = new LauncherAnimationRunner(mUiHandler,
-                true /* startAtFrontOfQueue */) {
+        mActivityLaunchAnimationRunner = new WrappedAnimationRunnerImpl() {
+            @Override
+            public Handler getHandler() {
+                return mUiHandler;
+            }
 
             @Override
             public void onCreateAnimation(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] appTargets,
@@ -181,8 +190,10 @@
                 result.setAnimation(anim, RecentsActivity.this);
             }
         };
+        final LauncherAnimationRunner wrapper = new WrappedLauncherAnimationRunner<>(
+                mActivityLaunchAnimationRunner, true /* startAtFrontOfQueue */);
         return ActivityOptionsCompat.makeRemoteAnimation(new RemoteAnimationAdapterCompat(
-                runner, RECENTS_LAUNCH_DURATION,
+                wrapper, RECENTS_LAUNCH_DURATION,
                 RECENTS_LAUNCH_DURATION - STATUS_BAR_TRANSITION_DURATION
                         - STATUS_BAR_TRANSITION_PRE_DELAY));
     }
@@ -287,6 +298,7 @@
     protected void onDestroy() {
         super.onDestroy();
         ACTIVITY_TRACKER.onActivityDestroyed(this);
+        mActivityLaunchAnimationRunner = null;
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/RemoteAnimationProvider.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/RemoteAnimationProvider.java
index 04308c8..19c6588 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/RemoteAnimationProvider.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/RemoteAnimationProvider.java
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 import android.os.Handler;
 
 import com.android.launcher3.LauncherAnimationRunner;
+import com.android.launcher3.LauncherAnimationRunner.AnimationResult;
+import com.android.launcher3.WrappedAnimationRunnerImpl;
 import com.android.launcher3.WrappedLauncherAnimationRunner;
 import com.android.systemui.shared.system.ActivityOptionsCompat;
 import com.android.systemui.shared.system.RemoteAnimationAdapterCompat;
@@ -28,14 +30,17 @@
 
 public abstract class RemoteAnimationProvider {
 
-    LauncherAnimationRunner mAnimationRunner;
+    WrappedAnimationRunnerImpl mAnimationRunner;
 
     public abstract AnimatorSet createWindowAnimation(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] appTargets,
             RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] wallpaperTargets);
 
     ActivityOptions toActivityOptions(Handler handler, long duration, Context context) {
-        mAnimationRunner = new LauncherAnimationRunner(handler,
-                false /* startAtFrontOfQueue */) {
+        mAnimationRunner = new WrappedAnimationRunnerImpl() {
+            @Override
+            public Handler getHandler() {
+                return handler;
+            }
 
             @Override
             public void onCreateAnimation(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] appTargets,
@@ -45,7 +50,6 @@
         };
         final LauncherAnimationRunner wrapper = new WrappedLauncherAnimationRunner(
                 mAnimationRunner, false /* startAtFrontOfQueue */);
-
         return ActivityOptionsCompat.makeRemoteAnimation(
                 new RemoteAnimationAdapterCompat(wrapper, duration, 0));
     }