diff --git a/firebase-perf/src/main/java/com/google/firebase/perf/metrics/AppStartTrace.java b/firebase-perf/src/main/java/com/google/firebase/perf/metrics/AppStartTrace.java
index d38d260503b..2b24d616e03 100644
--- a/firebase-perf/src/main/java/com/google/firebase/perf/metrics/AppStartTrace.java
+++ b/firebase-perf/src/main/java/com/google/firebase/perf/metrics/AppStartTrace.java
@@ -446,7 +446,9 @@ public void onActivityPaused(Activity activity) {
       return;
     }
     View rootView = activity.findViewById(android.R.id.content);
-    rootView.getViewTreeObserver().removeOnDrawListener(onDrawCounterListener);
+    if (rootView == null) {
+      rootView.getViewTreeObserver().removeOnDrawListener(onDrawCounterListener);
+    }
   }
 
   @Override