diff --git a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
index 7b01690..496aec1 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
@@ -3319,6 +3319,7 @@
         int32_t priority,
         audio_io_handle_t io,
         audio_session_t sessionId,
+        const AudioDeviceTypeAddr& device __unused,
         const String16& opPackageName,
         pid_t pid,
         status_t *status,
@@ -3377,6 +3378,11 @@
             lStatus = PERMISSION_DENIED;
             goto Exit;
         }
+        if (io != AUDIO_IO_HANDLE_NONE) {
+            ALOGE("%s: io handle should not be specified for device effect", __func__);
+            lStatus = BAD_VALUE;
+            goto Exit;
+        }
         //TODO: add check on device ID when added to arguments
     } else {
         // general sessionId.