diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/SurfaceFlinger_ColorMatrixTest.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/SurfaceFlinger_ColorMatrixTest.cpp
index f127213..5852b1c 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/SurfaceFlinger_ColorMatrixTest.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/SurfaceFlinger_ColorMatrixTest.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 class ColorMatrixTest : public CommitAndCompositeTest {};
 
 TEST_F(ColorMatrixTest, colorMatrixChanged) {
+    mFlinger.enableLayerLifecycleManager();
     EXPECT_COLOR_MATRIX_CHANGED(true, true);
     mFlinger.mutableTransactionFlags() |= eTransactionNeeded;
 
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@
 }
 
 TEST_F(ColorMatrixTest, colorMatrixChangedAfterDisplayTransaction) {
+    mFlinger.enableLayerLifecycleManager();
     EXPECT_COLOR_MATRIX_CHANGED(true, true);
     mFlinger.mutableTransactionFlags() |= eTransactionNeeded;
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/TestableSurfaceFlinger.h b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/TestableSurfaceFlinger.h
index 85b1717..d40b2f8 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/TestableSurfaceFlinger.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/TestableSurfaceFlinger.h
@@ -691,6 +691,10 @@
         return mFlinger->initTransactionTraceWriter();
     }
 
+    // Needed since mLayerLifecycleManagerEnabled is false by default and must
+    // be enabled for tests to go through the new front end path.
+    void enableLayerLifecycleManager() { mFlinger->mLayerLifecycleManagerEnabled = true; }
+
     void notifyExpectedPresentIfRequired(PhysicalDisplayId displayId, Period vsyncPeriod,
                                          TimePoint expectedPresentTime, Fps frameInterval,
                                          std::optional<Period> timeoutOpt) {