diff --git a/audio/aidl/default/EffectImpl.cpp b/audio/aidl/default/EffectImpl.cpp
index b76269a..c29bf79 100644
--- a/audio/aidl/default/EffectImpl.cpp
+++ b/audio/aidl/default/EffectImpl.cpp
@@ -327,7 +327,9 @@
             return;
         }
 
-        auto processSamples = inputMQ->availableToRead();
+        assert(mImplContext->getWorkBufferSize() >=
+               std::max(inputMQ->availableToRead(), outputMQ->availableToWrite()));
+        auto processSamples = std::min(inputMQ->availableToRead(), outputMQ->availableToWrite());
         if (processSamples) {
             inputMQ->read(buffer, processSamples);
             IEffect::Status status = effectProcessImpl(buffer, buffer, processSamples);