diff --git a/services/soundtrigger/SoundTriggerHwService.cpp b/services/soundtrigger/SoundTriggerHwService.cpp
index b5aaee3..d3b67f6 100644
--- a/services/soundtrigger/SoundTriggerHwService.cpp
+++ b/services/soundtrigger/SoundTriggerHwService.cpp
@@ -535,6 +535,16 @@
             (struct sound_trigger_sound_model *)modelMemory->pointer();
 
     AutoMutex lock(mLock);
+
+    if (mModels.size() >= mDescriptor.properties.max_sound_models) {
+        if (mModels.size() == 0) {
+            return INVALID_OPERATION;
+        }
+        ALOGW("loadSoundModel() max number of models exceeded %d making room for a new one",
+              mDescriptor.properties.max_sound_models);
+        unloadSoundModel_l(mModels.valueAt(0)->mHandle);
+    }
+
     status_t status = mHwDevice->load_sound_model(mHwDevice,
                                                   sound_model,
                                                   SoundTriggerHwService::soundModelCallback,
@@ -566,6 +576,11 @@
     }
 
     AutoMutex lock(mLock);
+    return unloadSoundModel_l(handle);
+}
+
+status_t SoundTriggerHwService::Module::unloadSoundModel_l(sound_model_handle_t handle)
+{
     ssize_t index = mModels.indexOfKey(handle);
     if (index < 0) {
         return BAD_VALUE;
@@ -574,6 +589,7 @@
     mModels.removeItem(handle);
     if (model->mState == Model::STATE_ACTIVE) {
         mHwDevice->stop_recognition(mHwDevice, model->mHandle);
+        model->mState = Model::STATE_IDLE;
     }
     AudioSystem::releaseSoundTriggerSession(model->mCaptureSession);
     return mHwDevice->unload_sound_model(mHwDevice, handle);