diff --git a/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamBase.cpp b/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamBase.cpp
index adbfc21..4e46bbf 100644
--- a/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamBase.cpp
+++ b/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamBase.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <mutex>
 
+#include <com_android_media_aaudio.h>
 #include <media/MediaMetricsItem.h>
 #include <media/TypeConverter.h>
 #include <mediautils/SchedulingPolicyService.h>
@@ -219,7 +220,7 @@
     return closeAndClear();
 }
 
-aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamBase::startDevice() {
+aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamBase::startDevice_l() {
     mClientHandle = AUDIO_PORT_HANDLE_NONE;
     sp<AAudioServiceEndpoint> endpoint = mServiceEndpointWeak.promote();
     if (endpoint == nullptr) {
@@ -274,7 +275,7 @@
     mAtomicStreamTimestamp.clear();
 
     mClientHandle = AUDIO_PORT_HANDLE_NONE;
-    result = startDevice();
+    result = startDevice_l();
     if (result != AAUDIO_OK) goto error;
 
     // This should happen at the end of the start.
@@ -520,6 +521,18 @@
                                                        : exitStandby_l(param->mParcelable);
                     standbyTime = AudioClock::getNanoseconds() + IDLE_TIMEOUT_NANOS;
                 } break;
+                case START_CLIENT: {
+                    auto param = (StartClientParam *) command->parameter.get();
+                    command->result = param == nullptr ? AAUDIO_ERROR_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT
+                                                       : startClient_l(param->mClient,
+                                                                       param->mAttr,
+                                                                       param->mClientHandle);
+                } break;
+                case STOP_CLIENT: {
+                    auto param = (StopClientParam *) command->parameter.get();
+                    command->result = param == nullptr ? AAUDIO_ERROR_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT
+                                                       : stopClient_l(param->mClientHandle);
+                } break;
                 default:
                     ALOGE("Invalid command op code: %d", command->operationCode);
                     break;
@@ -732,6 +745,26 @@
     return mCommandQueue.sendCommand(command);
 }
 
+aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamBase::sendStartClientCommand(const android::AudioClient &client,
+                                                                const audio_attributes_t *attr,
+                                                                audio_port_handle_t *clientHandle) {
+    auto command = std::make_shared<AAudioCommand>(
+            START_CLIENT,
+            std::make_shared<StartClientParam>(client, attr, clientHandle),
+            true /*waitForReply*/,
+            TIMEOUT_NANOS);
+    return mCommandQueue.sendCommand(command);
+}
+
+aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamBase::sendStopClientCommand(audio_port_handle_t clientHandle) {
+    auto command = std::make_shared<AAudioCommand>(
+            STOP_CLIENT,
+            std::make_shared<StopClientParam>(clientHandle),
+            true /*waitForReply*/,
+            TIMEOUT_NANOS);
+    return mCommandQueue.sendCommand(command);
+}
+
 void AAudioServiceStreamBase::onVolumeChanged(float volume) {
     sendServiceEvent(AAUDIO_SERVICE_EVENT_VOLUME, volume);
 }
diff --git a/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamBase.h b/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamBase.h
index 96a6d44..8057f87 100644
--- a/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamBase.h
+++ b/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamBase.h
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
      * Device specific startup.
      * @return AAUDIO_OK or negative error.
      */
-    virtual aaudio_result_t startDevice();
+    virtual aaudio_result_t startDevice_l() REQUIRES(mLock);
 
     aaudio_result_t writeUpMessageQueue(AAudioServiceMessage *command)
             EXCLUDES(mUpMessageQueueLock);
@@ -288,6 +288,12 @@
 
     aaudio_result_t sendXRunCount(int32_t xRunCount);
 
+    aaudio_result_t sendStartClientCommand(const android::AudioClient& client,
+                                           const audio_attributes_t *attr,
+                                           audio_port_handle_t *clientHandle) EXCLUDES(mLock);
+
+    aaudio_result_t sendStopClientCommand(audio_port_handle_t clientHandle) EXCLUDES(mLock);
+
     /**
      * @param positionFrames
      * @param timeNanos
@@ -342,6 +348,40 @@
     }
     virtual void reportData_l() REQUIRES(mLock) { return; }
 
+    class StartClientParam : public AAudioCommandParam {
+    public:
+        StartClientParam(const android::AudioClient& client, const audio_attributes_t* attr,
+                         audio_port_handle_t* clientHandle)
+                : AAudioCommandParam(), mClient(client), mAttr(attr), mClientHandle(clientHandle) {
+        }
+        ~StartClientParam() override = default;
+
+        android::AudioClient mClient;
+        const audio_attributes_t* mAttr;
+        audio_port_handle_t* mClientHandle;
+    };
+    virtual aaudio_result_t startClient_l(
+            const android::AudioClient& client,
+            const audio_attributes_t *attr __unused,
+            audio_port_handle_t *clientHandle __unused) REQUIRES(mLock) {
+        ALOGD("AAudioServiceStreamBase::startClient_l(%p, ...) AAUDIO_ERROR_UNAVAILABLE", &client);
+        return AAUDIO_ERROR_UNAVAILABLE;
+    }
+
+    class StopClientParam : public AAudioCommandParam {
+    public:
+        explicit StopClientParam(audio_port_handle_t clientHandle)
+                : AAudioCommandParam(), mClientHandle(clientHandle) {
+        }
+        ~StopClientParam() override = default;
+
+        audio_port_handle_t mClientHandle;
+    };
+    virtual aaudio_result_t stopClient_l(audio_port_handle_t clientHandle) REQUIRES(mLock) {
+        ALOGD("AAudioServiceStreamBase::stopClient(%d) AAUDIO_ERROR_UNAVAILABLE", clientHandle);
+        return AAUDIO_ERROR_UNAVAILABLE;
+    }
+
     pid_t                   mRegisteredClientThread = ILLEGAL_THREAD_ID;
 
     std::mutex              mUpMessageQueueLock;
@@ -358,6 +398,8 @@
         UNREGISTER_AUDIO_THREAD,
         GET_DESCRIPTION,
         EXIT_STANDBY,
+        START_CLIENT,
+        STOP_CLIENT,
     };
     AAudioThread            mCommandThread;
     std::atomic_bool        mThreadEnabled{false};
diff --git a/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamMMAP.cpp b/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamMMAP.cpp
index 89f6e33..fc53949 100644
--- a/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamMMAP.cpp
+++ b/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamMMAP.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <stdint.h>
 
+#include <com_android_media_aaudio.h>
 #include <utils/String16.h>
 #include <media/nbaio/AudioStreamOutSink.h>
 #include <media/MmapStreamInterface.h>
@@ -83,11 +84,12 @@
 }
 
 // Start the flow of data.
-aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamMMAP::startDevice() {
-    aaudio_result_t result = AAudioServiceStreamBase::startDevice();
+aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamMMAP::startDevice_l() {
+    aaudio_result_t result = AAudioServiceStreamBase::startDevice_l();
     if (!mInService && result == AAUDIO_OK) {
         // Note that this can sometimes take 200 to 300 msec for a cold start!
-        result = startClient(mMmapClient, nullptr /*const audio_attributes_t* */, &mClientHandle);
+        result = startClient_l(
+                mMmapClient, nullptr /*const audio_attributes_t* */, &mClientHandle);
     }
     return result;
 }
@@ -100,7 +102,7 @@
     aaudio_result_t result = AAudioServiceStreamBase::pause_l();
     // TODO put before base::pause()?
     if (!mInService) {
-        (void) stopClient(mClientHandle);
+        (void) stopClient_l(mClientHandle);
     }
     return result;
 }
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@
     aaudio_result_t result = AAudioServiceStreamBase::stop_l();
     // TODO put before base::stop()?
     if (!mInService) {
-        (void) stopClient(mClientHandle);
+        (void) stopClient_l(mClientHandle);
     }
     return result;
 }
@@ -149,6 +151,37 @@
 aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamMMAP::startClient(const android::AudioClient& client,
                                                      const audio_attributes_t *attr,
                                                      audio_port_handle_t *clientHandle) {
+    if (com::android::media::aaudio::start_stop_client_from_command_thread()) {
+        return sendStartClientCommand(client, attr, clientHandle);
+    } else {
+        sp<AAudioServiceEndpoint> endpoint = mServiceEndpointWeak.promote();
+        if (endpoint == nullptr) {
+            ALOGE("%s() has no endpoint", __func__);
+            return AAUDIO_ERROR_INVALID_STATE;
+        }
+        // Start the client on behalf of the application. Generate a new porthandle.
+        aaudio_result_t result = endpoint->startClient(client, attr, clientHandle);
+        return result;
+    }
+}
+
+aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamMMAP::stopClient(audio_port_handle_t clientHandle) {
+    if (com::android::media::aaudio::start_stop_client_from_command_thread()) {
+        return sendStopClientCommand(clientHandle);
+    } else {
+        sp<AAudioServiceEndpoint> endpoint = mServiceEndpointWeak.promote();
+        if (endpoint == nullptr) {
+            ALOGE("%s() has no endpoint", __func__);
+            return AAUDIO_ERROR_INVALID_STATE;
+        }
+        aaudio_result_t result = endpoint->stopClient(clientHandle);
+        return result;
+    }
+}
+
+aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamMMAP::startClient_l(const android::AudioClient& client,
+                                                       const audio_attributes_t *attr,
+                                                       audio_port_handle_t *clientHandle) {
     sp<AAudioServiceEndpoint> endpoint = mServiceEndpointWeak.promote();
     if (endpoint == nullptr) {
         ALOGE("%s() has no endpoint", __func__);
@@ -159,7 +192,7 @@
     return result;
 }
 
-aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamMMAP::stopClient(audio_port_handle_t clientHandle) {
+aaudio_result_t AAudioServiceStreamMMAP::stopClient_l(audio_port_handle_t clientHandle) {
     sp<AAudioServiceEndpoint> endpoint = mServiceEndpointWeak.promote();
     if (endpoint == nullptr) {
         ALOGE("%s() has no endpoint", __func__);
diff --git a/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamMMAP.h b/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamMMAP.h
index 42032d7..f4ce83d 100644
--- a/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamMMAP.h
+++ b/services/oboeservice/AAudioServiceStreamMMAP.h
@@ -93,7 +93,13 @@
      * Device specific startup.
      * @return AAUDIO_OK or negative error.
      */
-    aaudio_result_t startDevice() override;
+    aaudio_result_t startDevice_l() REQUIRES(mLock) override;
+
+    aaudio_result_t startClient_l(const android::AudioClient& client,
+                                  const audio_attributes_t *attr,
+                                  audio_port_handle_t *clientHandle) REQUIRES(mLock) override;
+
+    aaudio_result_t stopClient_l(audio_port_handle_t clientHandle) REQUIRES(mLock) override;
 
 private: