diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/FlagManager.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/FlagManager.cpp
index 6d0dbc7..13b8a6c 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/FlagManager.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/FlagManager.cpp
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@
     /// Trunk stable server flags ///
     DUMP_SERVER_FLAG(late_boot_misc2);
     DUMP_SERVER_FLAG(dont_skip_on_early);
+    DUMP_SERVER_FLAG(refresh_rate_overlay_on_external_display);
 
     /// Trunk stable readonly flags ///
     DUMP_READ_ONLY_FLAG(connected_display);
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@
 
 /// Trunk stable server flags ///
 FLAG_MANAGER_SERVER_FLAG(late_boot_misc2, "")
+FLAG_MANAGER_SERVER_FLAG(refresh_rate_overlay_on_external_display, "")
 
 /// Exceptions ///
 bool FlagManager::dont_skip_on_early() const {
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/FlagManager.h b/services/surfaceflinger/FlagManager.h
index cefce9b..e3e4f80 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/FlagManager.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/FlagManager.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
     /// Trunk stable server flags ///
     bool late_boot_misc2() const;
     bool dont_skip_on_early() const;
+    bool refresh_rate_overlay_on_external_display() const;
 
     /// Trunk stable readonly flags ///
     bool connected_display() const;
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
index 02930cc..9c8555e 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
@@ -8422,7 +8422,8 @@
 void SurfaceFlinger::enableRefreshRateOverlay(bool enable) {
     bool setByHwc = getHwComposer().hasCapability(Capability::REFRESH_RATE_CHANGED_CALLBACK_DEBUG);
     for (const auto& [id, display] : mPhysicalDisplays) {
-        if (display.snapshot().connectionType() == ui::DisplayConnectionType::Internal) {
+        if (display.snapshot().connectionType() == ui::DisplayConnectionType::Internal ||
+            FlagManager::getInstance().refresh_rate_overlay_on_external_display()) {
             if (const auto device = getDisplayDeviceLocked(id)) {
                 const auto enableOverlay = [&](const bool setByHwc) FTL_FAKE_GUARD(
                                                    kMainThreadContext) {
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/surfaceflinger_flags.aconfig b/services/surfaceflinger/surfaceflinger_flags.aconfig
index a81f9b8..bb3c94a 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/surfaceflinger_flags.aconfig
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/surfaceflinger_flags.aconfig
@@ -70,3 +70,9 @@
   is_fixed_read_only: true
 }
 
+flag {
+  name: "refresh_rate_overlay_on_external_display"
+  namespace: "core_graphics"
+  description: "enable refresh rate indicator on the external display"
+  bug: "301647974"
+}