diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/ActiveServices.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/ActiveServices.java
index b8f6b3f..33ca15a 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/ActiveServices.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/ActiveServices.java
@@ -372,6 +372,15 @@
     @Overridable
     public static final long FGS_BOOT_COMPLETED_RESTRICTIONS = 296558535L;
 
+    /**
+     * Disables foreground service background starts in System Alert Window for all types
+     * unless it already has a System Overlay Window.
+     */
+    @ChangeId
+    @EnabledSince(targetSdkVersion = VERSION_CODES.VANILLA_ICE_CREAM)
+    @Overridable
+    public static final long FGS_SAW_RESTRICTIONS = 319471980L;
+
     final ActivityManagerService mAm;
 
     // Maximum number of services that we allow to start in the background
@@ -8525,10 +8534,31 @@
             }
         }
 
+        // The flag being enabled isn't enough to deny background start: we need to also check
+        // if there is a system alert UI present.
         if (ret == REASON_DENIED) {
-            if (mAm.mAtmInternal.hasSystemAlertWindowPermission(callingUid, callingPid,
-                    callingPackage)) {
-                ret = REASON_SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW_PERMISSION;
+            // Flag check: are we disabling SAW FGS background starts?
+            final boolean shouldDisableSaw = Flags.fgsDisableSaw()
+                    && CompatChanges.isChangeEnabled(FGS_BOOT_COMPLETED_RESTRICTIONS, callingUid);
+            if (shouldDisableSaw) {
+                final ProcessRecord processRecord = mAm
+                        .getProcessRecordLocked(targetService.processName,
+                        targetService.appInfo.uid);
+                if (processRecord != null) {
+                    if (processRecord.mState.hasOverlayUi()) {
+                        if (mAm.mAtmInternal.hasSystemAlertWindowPermission(callingUid, callingPid,
+                                callingPackage)) {
+                            ret = REASON_SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW_PERMISSION;
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    Slog.e(TAG, "Could not find process record for SAW check");
+                }
+            } else {
+                if (mAm.mAtmInternal.hasSystemAlertWindowPermission(callingUid, callingPid,
+                        callingPackage)) {
+                    ret = REASON_SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW_PERMISSION;
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/flags.aconfig b/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/flags.aconfig
index 16dbe18..e955b00 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/flags.aconfig
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/flags.aconfig
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@
 }
 
 flag {
+    name: "fgs_disable_saw"
+    namespace: "backstage_power"
+    description: "Disable System Alert Window FGS start"
+    bug: "296558535"
+}
+
+flag {
     name: "bfgs_managed_network_access"
     namespace: "backstage_power"
     description: "Restrict network access for certain applications in BFGS process state"