diff --git a/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.cpp b/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
index 315e08d..d427de4 100644
--- a/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
+++ b/services/audiopolicy/managerdefault/AudioPolicyManager.cpp
@@ -2086,7 +2086,14 @@
 
         // sampling rate match
         if (samplingRate > SAMPLE_RATE_HZ_DEFAULT) {
-            currentMatchCriteria[4] = outputDesc->getSamplingRate();
+            int diff;  // avoid unsigned integer overflow.
+            __builtin_sub_overflow(outputDesc->getSamplingRate(), samplingRate, &diff);
+
+            // prefer the closest output sampling rate greater than or equal to target
+            // if none exists, prefer the closest output sampling rate less than target.
+            //
+            // criteria is offset to make non-negative.
+            currentMatchCriteria[4] = diff >= 0 ? -diff + 200'000'000 : diff + 100'000'000;
         }
 
         // performance flags match