diff --git a/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/car/notification/NotificationPanelViewController.java b/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/car/notification/NotificationPanelViewController.java
index 8d58436..8b4f69f 100644
--- a/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/car/notification/NotificationPanelViewController.java
+++ b/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/car/notification/NotificationPanelViewController.java
@@ -299,10 +299,10 @@
         // The glass pane is used to view touch events before passed to the notification list.
         // This allows us to initialize gesture listeners and detect when to close the notifications
         glassPane.setOnTouchListener((v, event) -> {
-            if (event.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_UP) {
+            if (isClosingAction(event)) {
                 mNotificationListAtEndAtTimeOfTouch = false;
             }
-            if (event.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN) {
+            if (isOpeningAction(event)) {
                 mFirstTouchDownOnGlassPane = event.getRawX();
                 mNotificationListAtEndAtTimeOfTouch = mNotificationListAtEnd;
                 // Reset the tracker when there is a touch down on the glass pane.
@@ -355,8 +355,7 @@
             if (rect != null) {
                 clippedHeight = rect.bottom;
             }
-            if (!handled && event.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_UP
-                    && mIsSwipingVerticallyToClose) {
+            if (!handled && isClosingAction(event) && mIsSwipingVerticallyToClose) {
                 if (getSettleClosePercentage() < getPercentageFromEndingEdge() && isTracking) {
                     animatePanel(DEFAULT_FLING_VELOCITY, false);
                 } else if (clippedHeight != getLayout().getHeight() && isTracking) {
@@ -369,7 +368,7 @@
             // Updating the mNotificationListAtEndAtTimeOfTouch state has to be done after
             // the event has been passed to the closeGestureDetector above, such that the
             // closeGestureDetector sees the up event before the state has changed.
-            if (event.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_UP) {
+            if (isClosingAction(event)) {
                 mNotificationListAtEndAtTimeOfTouch = false;
             }
             return handled || isTracking;
diff --git a/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/car/window/OverlayPanelViewController.java b/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/car/window/OverlayPanelViewController.java
index 45808a8..bde31f1 100644
--- a/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/car/window/OverlayPanelViewController.java
+++ b/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/car/window/OverlayPanelViewController.java
@@ -191,6 +191,38 @@
         }
     }
 
+    /** Checks if a {@link MotionEvent} is an action to open the panel.
+     * @param e {@link MotionEvent} to check.
+     * @return true only if opening action.
+     */
+    protected boolean isOpeningAction(MotionEvent e) {
+        if (mAnimateDirection == POSITIVE_DIRECTION) {
+            return e.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN;
+        }
+
+        if (mAnimateDirection == NEGATIVE_DIRECTION) {
+            return e.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_UP;
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    /** Checks if a {@link MotionEvent} is an action to close the panel.
+     * @param e {@link MotionEvent} to check.
+     * @return true only if closing action.
+     */
+    protected boolean isClosingAction(MotionEvent e) {
+        if (mAnimateDirection == POSITIVE_DIRECTION) {
+            return e.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_UP;
+        }
+
+        if (mAnimateDirection == NEGATIVE_DIRECTION) {
+            return e.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN;
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
     /* ***************************************************************************************** *
      * Panel Animation
      * ***************************************************************************************** */
@@ -243,8 +275,7 @@
      * Depending on certain conditions, determines whether to fully expand or collapse the panel.
      */
     protected void maybeCompleteAnimation(MotionEvent event) {
-        if (event.getActionMasked() == MotionEvent.ACTION_UP
-                && isPanelVisible()) {
+        if (isClosingAction(event) && isPanelVisible()) {
             if (mSettleClosePercentage < mPercentageFromEndingEdge) {
                 animatePanel(DEFAULT_FLING_VELOCITY, false);
             } else {