diff --git a/media/libaudiohal/ConversionHelperHidl.cpp b/media/libaudiohal/ConversionHelperHidl.cpp
index 3451eb0..1fabfbe 100644
--- a/media/libaudiohal/ConversionHelperHidl.cpp
+++ b/media/libaudiohal/ConversionHelperHidl.cpp
@@ -82,9 +82,16 @@
     }
 }
 
+// static
+void ConversionHelperHidl::crashIfHalIsDead(const Status& status) {
+    LOG_ALWAYS_FATAL_IF(
+            status.transactionError() == DEAD_OBJECT, "HAL server crashed, need to restart");
+}
+
 status_t ConversionHelperHidl::processReturn(const char* funcName, const Status& status) {
     const status_t st = status.transactionError();
     ALOGE_IF(st, "%s %p %s: %s (from rpc)", mClassName, this, funcName, strerror(-st));
+    crashIfHalIsDead(status);
     return st;
 }
 
@@ -93,6 +100,7 @@
     const status_t st = status.isOk() ? analyzeResult(retval) : status.transactionError();
     ALOGE_IF(!status.isOk() && st, "%s %p %s: %s (from rpc)",
             mClassName, this, funcName, strerror(-st));
+    crashIfHalIsDead(status);
     return st;
 }