diff --git a/libs/renderengine/RenderEngine.cpp b/libs/renderengine/RenderEngine.cpp
index 9d9cb6b..f1fc0a4 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/RenderEngine.cpp
+++ b/libs/renderengine/RenderEngine.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <cutils/properties.h>
 #include <log/log.h>
 #include "gl/GLESRenderEngine.h"
+#include "renderengine/ExternalTexture.h"
 #include "threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.h"
 
 #include "skia/SkiaGLRenderEngine.h"
@@ -70,10 +71,22 @@
                                                   base::unique_fd&& bufferFence) {
     const auto resultPromise = std::make_shared<std::promise<FenceResult>>();
     std::future<FenceResult> resultFuture = resultPromise->get_future();
+    updateProtectedContext(layers, buffer);
     drawLayersInternal(std::move(resultPromise), display, layers, buffer, useFramebufferCache,
                        std::move(bufferFence));
     return resultFuture;
 }
 
+void RenderEngine::updateProtectedContext(const std::vector<LayerSettings>& layers,
+                                          const std::shared_ptr<ExternalTexture>& buffer) {
+    const bool needsProtectedContext =
+            (buffer && (buffer->getUsage() & GRALLOC_USAGE_PROTECTED)) ||
+            std::any_of(layers.begin(), layers.end(), [](const LayerSettings& layer) {
+                const std::shared_ptr<ExternalTexture>& buffer = layer.source.buffer.buffer;
+                return buffer && (buffer->getUsage() & GRALLOC_USAGE_PROTECTED);
+            });
+    useProtectedContext(needsProtectedContext);
+}
+
 } // namespace renderengine
 } // namespace android
diff --git a/libs/renderengine/gl/GLESRenderEngine.h b/libs/renderengine/gl/GLESRenderEngine.h
index 1ee5cba..1b34921 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/gl/GLESRenderEngine.h
+++ b/libs/renderengine/gl/GLESRenderEngine.h
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
     std::future<void> primeCache() override;
     void genTextures(size_t count, uint32_t* names) override;
     void deleteTextures(size_t count, uint32_t const* names) override;
-    bool isProtected() const override { return mInProtectedContext; }
+    bool isProtected() const { return mInProtectedContext; }
     bool supportsProtectedContent() const override;
     void useProtectedContext(bool useProtectedContext) override;
     void cleanupPostRender() override;
diff --git a/libs/renderengine/include/renderengine/RenderEngine.h b/libs/renderengine/include/renderengine/RenderEngine.h
index 199392c..9182feb 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/include/renderengine/RenderEngine.h
+++ b/libs/renderengine/include/renderengine/RenderEngine.h
@@ -126,12 +126,8 @@
     // ----- BEGIN NEW INTERFACE -----
 
     // queries that are required to be thread safe
-    virtual bool isProtected() const = 0;
     virtual bool supportsProtectedContent() const = 0;
 
-    // Attempt to switch RenderEngine into and out of protectedContext mode
-    virtual void useProtectedContext(bool useProtectedContext) = 0;
-
     // Notify RenderEngine of changes to the dimensions of the active display
     // so that it can configure its internal caches accordingly.
     virtual void onActiveDisplaySizeChanged(ui::Size size) = 0;
@@ -238,6 +234,13 @@
     friend class RenderEngineTest_cleanupPostRender_cleansUpOnce_Test;
     const RenderEngineType mRenderEngineType;
 
+    // Update protectedContext mode depending on whether or not any layer has a protected buffer.
+    void updateProtectedContext(const std::vector<LayerSettings>&,
+                                const std::shared_ptr<ExternalTexture>&);
+
+    // Attempt to switch RenderEngine into and out of protectedContext mode
+    virtual void useProtectedContext(bool useProtectedContext) = 0;
+
     virtual void drawLayersInternal(
             const std::shared_ptr<std::promise<FenceResult>>&& resultPromise,
             const DisplaySettings& display, const std::vector<LayerSettings>& layers,
diff --git a/libs/renderengine/skia/SkiaRenderEngine.h b/libs/renderengine/skia/SkiaRenderEngine.h
index e7c5b8f..1973c7d 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/skia/SkiaRenderEngine.h
+++ b/libs/renderengine/skia/SkiaRenderEngine.h
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@
     std::future<void> primeCache() override final;
     void cleanupPostRender() override final;
     void cleanFramebufferCache() override final{ }
-    bool isProtected() const override final{ return mInProtectedContext; }
     bool supportsBackgroundBlur() override final {
         return mBlurFilter != nullptr;
     }
@@ -102,6 +101,8 @@
     size_t getMaxViewportDims() const override final;
     GrDirectContext* getActiveGrContext();
 
+    bool isProtected() const { return mInProtectedContext; }
+
     // Implements PersistentCache as a way to monitor what SkSL shaders Skia has
     // cached.
     class SkSLCacheMonitor : public GrContextOptions::PersistentCache {
diff --git a/libs/renderengine/tests/RenderEngineThreadedTest.cpp b/libs/renderengine/tests/RenderEngineThreadedTest.cpp
index 1a96289..fe3a16d 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/tests/RenderEngineThreadedTest.cpp
+++ b/libs/renderengine/tests/RenderEngineThreadedTest.cpp
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@
 #include <cutils/properties.h>
 #include <gmock/gmock.h>
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
+#include <hardware/gralloc.h>
 #include <renderengine/impl/ExternalTexture.h>
 #include <renderengine/mock/RenderEngine.h>
+#include <ui/PixelFormat.h>
 #include "../threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.h"
 
 namespace android {
@@ -95,18 +97,6 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(dims, result);
 }
 
-TEST_F(RenderEngineThreadedTest, isProtected_returnsFalse) {
-    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, isProtected()).WillOnce(Return(false));
-    status_t result = mThreadedRE->isProtected();
-    ASSERT_EQ(false, result);
-}
-
-TEST_F(RenderEngineThreadedTest, isProtected_returnsTrue) {
-    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, isProtected()).WillOnce(Return(true));
-    size_t result = mThreadedRE->isProtected();
-    ASSERT_EQ(true, result);
-}
-
 TEST_F(RenderEngineThreadedTest, supportsProtectedContent_returnsFalse) {
     EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, supportsProtectedContent()).WillOnce(Return(false));
     status_t result = mThreadedRE->supportsProtectedContent();
@@ -119,28 +109,6 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(true, result);
 }
 
-TEST_F(RenderEngineThreadedTest, useProtectedContext) {
-    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, useProtectedContext(true));
-    auto& ipExpect = EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, isProtected()).WillOnce(Return(false));
-    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, supportsProtectedContent()).WillOnce(Return(true));
-    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, isProtected()).After(ipExpect).WillOnce(Return(true));
-
-    mThreadedRE->useProtectedContext(true);
-    ASSERT_EQ(true, mThreadedRE->isProtected());
-
-    // call ANY synchronous function to ensure that useProtectedContext has completed.
-    mThreadedRE->getContextPriority();
-    ASSERT_EQ(true, mThreadedRE->isProtected());
-}
-
-TEST_F(RenderEngineThreadedTest, useProtectedContext_quickReject) {
-    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, useProtectedContext(false)).Times(0);
-    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, isProtected()).WillOnce(Return(false));
-    mThreadedRE->useProtectedContext(false);
-    // call ANY synchronous function to ensure that useProtectedContext has completed.
-    mThreadedRE->getContextPriority();
-}
-
 TEST_F(RenderEngineThreadedTest, PostRenderCleanup_skipped) {
     EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, canSkipPostRenderCleanup()).WillOnce(Return(true));
     EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, cleanupPostRender()).Times(0);
@@ -182,6 +150,68 @@
 
     base::unique_fd bufferFence;
 
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, useProtectedContext(false));
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, drawLayersInternal)
+            .WillOnce([&](const std::shared_ptr<std::promise<FenceResult>>&& resultPromise,
+                          const renderengine::DisplaySettings&,
+                          const std::vector<renderengine::LayerSettings>&,
+                          const std::shared_ptr<renderengine::ExternalTexture>&, const bool,
+                          base::unique_fd&&) { resultPromise->set_value(Fence::NO_FENCE); });
+
+    ftl::Future<FenceResult> future =
+            mThreadedRE->drawLayers(settings, layers, buffer, false, std::move(bufferFence));
+    ASSERT_TRUE(future.valid());
+    auto result = future.get();
+    ASSERT_TRUE(result.ok());
+}
+
+TEST_F(RenderEngineThreadedTest, drawLayers_protectedLayer) {
+    renderengine::DisplaySettings settings;
+    auto layerBuffer = sp<GraphicBuffer>::make();
+    layerBuffer->usage |= GRALLOC_USAGE_PROTECTED;
+    renderengine::LayerSettings layer;
+    layer.source.buffer.buffer = std::make_shared<
+            renderengine::impl::ExternalTexture>(std::move(layerBuffer), *mRenderEngine,
+                                                 renderengine::impl::ExternalTexture::Usage::
+                                                         READABLE);
+    std::vector<renderengine::LayerSettings> layers = {std::move(layer)};
+    std::shared_ptr<renderengine::ExternalTexture> buffer = std::make_shared<
+            renderengine::impl::
+                    ExternalTexture>(sp<GraphicBuffer>::make(), *mRenderEngine,
+                                     renderengine::impl::ExternalTexture::Usage::READABLE |
+                                             renderengine::impl::ExternalTexture::Usage::WRITEABLE);
+
+    base::unique_fd bufferFence;
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, useProtectedContext(true));
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, drawLayersInternal)
+            .WillOnce([&](const std::shared_ptr<std::promise<FenceResult>>&& resultPromise,
+                          const renderengine::DisplaySettings&,
+                          const std::vector<renderengine::LayerSettings>&,
+                          const std::shared_ptr<renderengine::ExternalTexture>&, const bool,
+                          base::unique_fd&&) { resultPromise->set_value(Fence::NO_FENCE); });
+
+    ftl::Future<FenceResult> future =
+            mThreadedRE->drawLayers(settings, layers, buffer, false, std::move(bufferFence));
+    ASSERT_TRUE(future.valid());
+    auto result = future.get();
+    ASSERT_TRUE(result.ok());
+}
+
+TEST_F(RenderEngineThreadedTest, drawLayers_protectedOutputBuffer) {
+    renderengine::DisplaySettings settings;
+    std::vector<renderengine::LayerSettings> layers;
+    auto graphicBuffer = sp<GraphicBuffer>::make();
+    graphicBuffer->usage |= GRALLOC_USAGE_PROTECTED;
+    std::shared_ptr<renderengine::ExternalTexture> buffer = std::make_shared<
+            renderengine::impl::
+                    ExternalTexture>(std::move(graphicBuffer), *mRenderEngine,
+                                     renderengine::impl::ExternalTexture::Usage::READABLE |
+                                             renderengine::impl::ExternalTexture::Usage::WRITEABLE);
+
+    base::unique_fd bufferFence;
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, useProtectedContext(true));
     EXPECT_CALL(*mRenderEngine, drawLayersInternal)
             .WillOnce([&](const std::shared_ptr<std::promise<FenceResult>>&& resultPromise,
                           const renderengine::DisplaySettings&,
diff --git a/libs/renderengine/threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.cpp b/libs/renderengine/threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.cpp
index b41e843..8aa41b3 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.cpp
+++ b/libs/renderengine/threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@
     }
 
     mRenderEngine = factory();
-    mIsProtected = mRenderEngine->isProtected();
 
     pthread_setname_np(pthread_self(), mThreadName);
 
@@ -255,41 +254,11 @@
     return mRenderEngine->getMaxViewportDims();
 }
 
-bool RenderEngineThreaded::isProtected() const {
-    waitUntilInitialized();
-    std::lock_guard lock(mThreadMutex);
-    return mIsProtected;
-}
-
 bool RenderEngineThreaded::supportsProtectedContent() const {
     waitUntilInitialized();
     return mRenderEngine->supportsProtectedContent();
 }
 
-void RenderEngineThreaded::useProtectedContext(bool useProtectedContext) {
-    if (isProtected() == useProtectedContext ||
-        (useProtectedContext && !supportsProtectedContent())) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    {
-        std::lock_guard lock(mThreadMutex);
-        mFunctionCalls.push([useProtectedContext, this](renderengine::RenderEngine& instance) {
-            ATRACE_NAME("REThreaded::useProtectedContext");
-            instance.useProtectedContext(useProtectedContext);
-            if (instance.isProtected() != useProtectedContext) {
-                ALOGE("Failed to switch RenderEngine context.");
-                // reset the cached mIsProtected value to a good state, but this does not
-                // prevent other callers of this method and isProtected from reading the
-                // invalid cached value.
-                mIsProtected = instance.isProtected();
-            }
-        });
-        mIsProtected = useProtectedContext;
-    }
-    mCondition.notify_one();
-}
-
 void RenderEngineThreaded::cleanupPostRender() {
     if (canSkipPostRenderCleanup()) {
         return;
@@ -334,6 +303,7 @@
         mFunctionCalls.push([resultPromise, display, layers, buffer, useFramebufferCache,
                              fd](renderengine::RenderEngine& instance) {
             ATRACE_NAME("REThreaded::drawLayers");
+            instance.updateProtectedContext(layers, buffer);
             instance.drawLayersInternal(std::move(resultPromise), display, layers, buffer,
                                         useFramebufferCache, base::unique_fd(fd));
         });
diff --git a/libs/renderengine/threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.h b/libs/renderengine/threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.h
index bf2ebea..168e2d2 100644
--- a/libs/renderengine/threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.h
+++ b/libs/renderengine/threaded/RenderEngineThreaded.h
@@ -51,9 +51,7 @@
     size_t getMaxTextureSize() const override;
     size_t getMaxViewportDims() const override;
 
-    bool isProtected() const override;
     bool supportsProtectedContent() const override;
-    void useProtectedContext(bool useProtectedContext) override;
     void cleanupPostRender() override;
 
     ftl::Future<FenceResult> drawLayers(const DisplaySettings& display,
@@ -84,6 +82,9 @@
     void waitUntilInitialized() const;
     static status_t setSchedFifo(bool enabled);
 
+    // No-op. This method is only called on leaf implementations of RenderEngine.
+    void useProtectedContext(bool) override {}
+
     /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * Threading
      */
@@ -107,7 +108,6 @@
      * Render Engine
      */
     std::unique_ptr<renderengine::RenderEngine> mRenderEngine;
-    std::atomic<bool> mIsProtected = false;
 };
 } // namespace threaded
 } // namespace renderengine