diff --git a/media/codec2/sfplugin/CCodecBufferChannel.cpp b/media/codec2/sfplugin/CCodecBufferChannel.cpp
index 1c86ba9..f8d529e 100644
--- a/media/codec2/sfplugin/CCodecBufferChannel.cpp
+++ b/media/codec2/sfplugin/CCodecBufferChannel.cpp
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@
         Mutexed<Output>::Locked output(mOutput);
         output->outputDelay = 0u;
         output->numSlots = kSmoothnessFactor;
+        output->bounded = false;
     }
     {
         Mutexed<BlockPools>::Locked pools(mBlockPools);
@@ -727,7 +728,7 @@
         Mutexed<Output>::Locked output(mOutput);
         if (!output->buffers ||
                 output->buffers->hasPending() ||
-                output->buffers->numActiveSlots() >= output->numSlots) {
+                (!output->bounded && output->buffers->numActiveSlots() >= output->numSlots)) {
             return;
         }
     }
@@ -1509,6 +1510,7 @@
         Mutexed<Output>::Locked output(mOutput);
         output->outputDelay = outputDelayValue;
         output->numSlots = numOutputSlots;
+        output->bounded = bool(outputSurface);
         if (graphic) {
             if (outputSurface || !buffersBoundToCodec) {
                 output->buffers.reset(new GraphicOutputBuffers(mName));
diff --git a/media/codec2/sfplugin/CCodecBufferChannel.h b/media/codec2/sfplugin/CCodecBufferChannel.h
index 0d25d6d..33cc5a8 100644
--- a/media/codec2/sfplugin/CCodecBufferChannel.h
+++ b/media/codec2/sfplugin/CCodecBufferChannel.h
@@ -321,6 +321,9 @@
         std::unique_ptr<OutputBuffers> buffers;
         size_t numSlots;
         uint32_t outputDelay;
+        // true iff the underlying block pool is bounded --- for example,
+        // a BufferQueue-based block pool would be bounded by the BufferQueue.
+        bool bounded;
     };
     Mutexed<Output> mOutput;
     Mutexed<std::list<std::unique_ptr<C2Work>>> mFlushedConfigs;