diff --git a/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp b/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
index 20447d8..52339ad 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/Threads.cpp
@@ -1360,7 +1360,7 @@
         if (chainCreated) {
             removeEffectChain_l(chain);
         }
-        handle.clear();
+        // handle must be cleared by caller to avoid deadlock.
     }
 
     *status = lStatus;