diff --git a/AndroidManifest.xml b/AndroidManifest.xml
index 5b2a120..e840c65 100644
--- a/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
       </intent-filter>
       <meta-data android:name="android.view.im" android:resource="@xml/method"/>
     </service>
-    <activity android:name="juloo.keyboard2.SettingsActivity" android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher" android:label="@string/settings_activity_label" android:theme="@style/android:Theme.DeviceDefault" android:exported="true">
+    <activity android:name="juloo.keyboard2.SettingsActivity" android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher" android:label="@string/settings_activity_label" android:theme="@style/android:Theme.DeviceDefault" android:exported="true" android:directBootAware="true">
       <intent-filter>
         <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
       </intent-filter>
diff --git a/srcs/juloo.keyboard2/EmojiGridView.java b/srcs/juloo.keyboard2/EmojiGridView.java
index 581200c..749ce3e 100644
--- a/srcs/juloo.keyboard2/EmojiGridView.java
+++ b/srcs/juloo.keyboard2/EmojiGridView.java
@@ -83,7 +83,9 @@ public class EmojiGridView extends GridView
 
   private void saveLastUsed()
   {
-    SharedPreferences.Editor edit = emojiSharedPreferences().edit();
+    SharedPreferences.Editor edit;
+    try { edit = emojiSharedPreferences().edit(); }
+    catch (Exception _e) { return; }
     HashSet<String> set = new HashSet<String>();
     for (Emoji emoji : _lastUsed.keySet())
       set.add(String.valueOf(_lastUsed.get(emoji)) + "-" + emoji.name());
@@ -93,15 +95,18 @@ public class EmojiGridView extends GridView
 
   private void loadLastUsed()
   {
-    SharedPreferences prefs = emojiSharedPreferences();
-    Set<String> lastUseSet = prefs.getStringSet(LAST_USE_PREF, null);
     _lastUsed = new HashMap<Emoji, Integer>();
+    SharedPreferences prefs;
+    // Storage might not be available (eg. the device is locked), avoid
+    // crashing.
+    try { prefs = emojiSharedPreferences(); }
+    catch (Exception _e) { return; }
+    Set<String> lastUseSet = prefs.getStringSet(LAST_USE_PREF, null);
     if (lastUseSet != null)
       for (String emojiData : lastUseSet)
       {
         String[] data = emojiData.split("-", 2);
         Emoji emoji;
-
         if (data.length != 2)
           continue ;
         emoji = Emoji.getEmojiByName(data[1]);
diff --git a/srcs/juloo.keyboard2/SettingsActivity.java b/srcs/juloo.keyboard2/SettingsActivity.java
index c6454a7..04fe501 100644
--- a/srcs/juloo.keyboard2/SettingsActivity.java
+++ b/srcs/juloo.keyboard2/SettingsActivity.java
@@ -14,9 +14,13 @@ public class SettingsActivity extends PreferenceActivity
   {
     detectSystemTheme();
     super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
+    SharedPreferences prefs;
+    // The preferences can't be read when in direct-boot mode. Avoid crashing
+    // and don't allow changing the settings.
+    try { prefs = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(this); }
+    catch (Exception _e) { fallbackEncrypted(); return; }
     addPreferencesFromResource(R.xml.settings);
-    PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(this)
-      .registerOnSharedPreferenceChangeListener(this.new OnPreferencesChange());
+    prefs.registerOnSharedPreferenceChangeListener(this.new OnPreferencesChange());
   }
 
   /** The default theme is [Theme.DeviceDefault], which is dark. Detect if the
@@ -31,6 +35,12 @@ public class SettingsActivity extends PreferenceActivity
     }
   }
 
+  void fallbackEncrypted()
+  {
+    // Can't communicate with the user here.
+    finish();
+  }
+
   /** See DirectBootAwarePreferences. */
   class OnPreferencesChange implements SharedPreferences.OnSharedPreferenceChangeListener
   {