diff --git a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
index 74a09d1..ecda56b 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
@@ -3375,6 +3375,7 @@
         const AudioDeviceTypeAddr& device,
         const String16& opPackageName,
         pid_t pid,
+        bool probe,
         status_t *status,
         int *id,
         int *enabled)
@@ -3490,10 +3491,10 @@
 
         if (sessionId == AUDIO_SESSION_DEVICE) {
             sp<Client> client = registerPid(pid);
-            ALOGV("%s device type %d address %s", __func__, device.mType, device.getAddress());
+            ALOGV("%s device type %#x address %s", __func__, device.mType, device.getAddress());
             handle = mDeviceEffectManager.createEffect_l(
                     &desc, device, client, effectClient, mPatchPanel.patches_l(),
-                    enabled, &lStatus);
+                    enabled, &lStatus, probe);
             if (lStatus != NO_ERROR && lStatus != ALREADY_EXISTS) {
                 // remove local strong reference to Client with mClientLock held
                 Mutex::Autolock _cl(mClientLock);
@@ -3588,7 +3589,7 @@
         // create effect on selected output thread
         bool pinned = !audio_is_global_session(sessionId) && isSessionAcquired_l(sessionId);
         handle = thread->createEffect_l(client, effectClient, priority, sessionId,
-                &desc, enabled, &lStatus, pinned);
+                &desc, enabled, &lStatus, pinned, probe);
         if (lStatus != NO_ERROR && lStatus != ALREADY_EXISTS) {
             // remove local strong reference to Client with mClientLock held
             Mutex::Autolock _cl(mClientLock);
@@ -3600,7 +3601,7 @@
     }
 
 Register:
-    if (lStatus == NO_ERROR || lStatus == ALREADY_EXISTS) {
+    if (!probe && (lStatus == NO_ERROR || lStatus == ALREADY_EXISTS)) {
         // Check CPU and memory usage
         sp<EffectBase> effect = handle->effect().promote();
         if (effect != nullptr) {
diff --git a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.h b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.h
index 6d7bf3c..40519b0 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.h
+++ b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.h
@@ -238,6 +238,7 @@
                         const AudioDeviceTypeAddr& device,
                         const String16& opPackageName,
                         pid_t pid,
+                        bool probe,
                         status_t *status /*non-NULL*/,
                         int *id,
                         int *enabled);
diff --git a/services/audioflinger/DeviceEffectManager.cpp b/services/audioflinger/DeviceEffectManager.cpp
index 87a4c6e..a3c3b84 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/DeviceEffectManager.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/DeviceEffectManager.cpp
@@ -74,13 +74,14 @@
         const sp<IEffectClient>& effectClient,
         const std::map<audio_patch_handle_t, PatchPanel::Patch>& patches,
         int *enabled,
-        status_t *status) {
+        status_t *status,
+        bool probe) {
     sp<DeviceEffectProxy> effect;
     sp<EffectHandle> handle;
     status_t lStatus;
 
     lStatus = checkEffectCompatibility(descriptor);
-    if (lStatus != NO_ERROR) {
+    if (probe || lStatus != NO_ERROR) {
        *status = lStatus;
        return handle;
     }
diff --git a/services/audioflinger/DeviceEffectManager.h b/services/audioflinger/DeviceEffectManager.h
index 14ff14d..81e6065 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/DeviceEffectManager.h
+++ b/services/audioflinger/DeviceEffectManager.h
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@
                 const sp<IEffectClient>& effectClient,
                 const std::map<audio_patch_handle_t, PatchPanel::Patch>& patches,
                 int *enabled,
-                status_t *status);
+                status_t *status,
+                bool probe);
     void createAudioPatch(audio_patch_handle_t handle, const PatchPanel::Patch& patch);
     void releaseAudioPatch(audio_patch_handle_t handle);
 
diff --git a/services/audioflinger/Effects.cpp b/services/audioflinger/Effects.cpp
index 82b9c96..8a65122 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/Effects.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/Effects.cpp
@@ -3047,7 +3047,7 @@
         int enabled;
         *handle = thread->createEffect_l(nullptr, nullptr, 0, AUDIO_SESSION_DEVICE,
                                          const_cast<effect_descriptor_t *>(&mDescriptor),
-                                         &enabled, &status, false);
+                                         &enabled, &status, false, false /*probe*/);
         ALOGV("%s thread->createEffect_l status %d", __func__, status);
     } else {
         status = BAD_VALUE;
diff --git a/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp b/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
index f24dcd7..dc39b62 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
@@ -1365,7 +1365,8 @@
         effect_descriptor_t *desc,
         int *enabled,
         status_t *status,
-        bool pinned)
+        bool pinned,
+        bool probe)
 {
     sp<EffectModule> effect;
     sp<EffectHandle> handle;
@@ -1387,7 +1388,7 @@
         Mutex::Autolock _l(mLock);
 
         lStatus = checkEffectCompatibility_l(desc, sessionId);
-        if (lStatus != NO_ERROR) {
+        if (probe || lStatus != NO_ERROR) {
             goto Exit;
         }
 
@@ -1433,7 +1434,7 @@
     }
 
 Exit:
-    if (lStatus != NO_ERROR && lStatus != ALREADY_EXISTS) {
+    if (!probe && lStatus != NO_ERROR && lStatus != ALREADY_EXISTS) {
         Mutex::Autolock _l(mLock);
         if (effectCreated) {
             chain->removeEffect_l(effect);
diff --git a/services/audioflinger/Threads.h b/services/audioflinger/Threads.h
index 153cf7c..8149e95 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/Threads.h
+++ b/services/audioflinger/Threads.h
@@ -342,7 +342,8 @@
                                     effect_descriptor_t *desc,
                                     int *enabled,
                                     status_t *status /*non-NULL*/,
-                                    bool pinned);
+                                    bool pinned,
+                                    bool probe);
 
                 // return values for hasAudioSession (bit field)
                 enum effect_state {