diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/net/NetworkStatsService.java b/services/java/com/android/server/net/NetworkStatsService.java
index 871ed682e6..a3decd5f27 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/net/NetworkStatsService.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/net/NetworkStatsService.java
@@ -268,6 +268,11 @@ public class NetworkStatsService extends INetworkStatsService.Stub {
     }
 
     public void systemReady() {
+        if (!isBandwidthControlEnabled()) {
+            Slog.w(TAG, "bandwidth controls disabled, unable to track stats");
+            return;
+        }
+
         synchronized (mStatsLock) {
             // read historical network stats from disk, since policy service
             // might need them right away. we delay loading detailed UID stats
@@ -1644,6 +1649,15 @@ public class NetworkStatsService extends INetworkStatsService.Stub {
         return telephony.getSubscriberId();
     }
 
+    private boolean isBandwidthControlEnabled() {
+        try {
+            return mNetworkManager.isBandwidthControlEnabled();
+        } catch (RemoteException e) {
+            // ignored; service lives in system_server
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Key uniquely identifying a {@link NetworkStatsHistory} for a UID.
      */