diff --git a/services/audioflinger/IAfEffect.h b/services/audioflinger/IAfEffect.h
index f1edcfe..3452e94 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/IAfEffect.h
+++ b/services/audioflinger/IAfEffect.h
@@ -400,7 +400,14 @@
     virtual status_t onUpdatePatch(audio_patch_handle_t oldPatchHandle,
             audio_patch_handle_t newPatchHandle,
             const IAfPatchPanel::Patch& patch) = 0;
-    virtual void onReleasePatch(audio_patch_handle_t patchHandle) = 0;
+    /**
+     * Checks (and release) of the effect handle is linked with the given release patch handle.
+     *
+     * @param patchHandle handle of the released patch
+     * @return a reference on the effect handle released if any, nullptr otherwise.
+     * It allows to delay the destruction of the handle.
+     */
+    virtual sp<IAfEffectHandle> onReleasePatch(audio_patch_handle_t patchHandle) = 0;
 
     virtual void dump2(int fd, int spaces) const = 0; // TODO(b/291319101) naming?