diff --git a/media/libmedia/AudioSystem.cpp b/media/libmedia/AudioSystem.cpp
index 9a76111..cf7dfef 100644
--- a/media/libmedia/AudioSystem.cpp
+++ b/media/libmedia/AudioSystem.cpp
@@ -719,7 +719,8 @@
 audio_io_handle_t AudioSystem::getOutputForEffect(const effect_descriptor_t *desc)
 {
     const sp<IAudioPolicyService>& aps = AudioSystem::get_audio_policy_service();
-    if (aps == 0) return PERMISSION_DENIED;
+    // FIXME change return type to status_t, and return PERMISSION_DENIED here
+    if (aps == 0) return 0;
     return aps->getOutputForEffect(desc);
 }