diff --git a/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp b/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
index affc09e..75f0743 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
@@ -7911,7 +7911,8 @@
         AutoMutex lock(mLock);
         if (recordTrack->isInvalid()) {
             recordTrack->clearSyncStartEvent();
-            return INVALID_OPERATION;
+            ALOGW("%s track %d: invalidated before startInput", __func__, recordTrack->portId());
+            return DEAD_OBJECT;
         }
         if (mActiveTracks.indexOf(recordTrack) >= 0) {
             if (recordTrack->mState == TrackBase::PAUSING) {
@@ -7941,7 +7942,8 @@
                     recordTrack->mState = TrackBase::STARTING_2;
                     // STARTING_2 forces destroy to call stopInput.
                 }
-                return INVALID_OPERATION;
+                ALOGW("%s track %d: invalidated after startInput", __func__, recordTrack->portId());
+                return DEAD_OBJECT;
             }
             if (recordTrack->mState != TrackBase::STARTING_1) {
                 ALOGW("%s(%d): unsynchronized mState:%d change",