diff --git a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.current.xml b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.current.xml
index 7ddf87a..2b5a0d5 100644
--- a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.current.xml
+++ b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.current.xml
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@
             <instance>default</instance>
         </interface>
     </hal>
-    <hal format="aidl" optional="true">
+    <hal format="aidl" optional="true" updatable-via-apex="true">
         <name>android.hardware.drm</name>
         <version>1</version>
         <interface>
diff --git a/ir/aidl/default/main.cpp b/ir/aidl/default/main.cpp
index 7b6dda5..92376fc 100644
--- a/ir/aidl/default/main.cpp
+++ b/ir/aidl/default/main.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
     ::ndk::ScopedAStatus getCarrierFreqs(std::vector<ConsumerIrFreqRange>* _aidl_return) override;
     ::ndk::ScopedAStatus transmit(int32_t in_carrierFreqHz,
                                   const std::vector<int32_t>& in_pattern) override;
-    consumerir_device_t *mDevice;
+    consumerir_device_t *mDevice = nullptr;
 };
 
 ConsumerIr::ConsumerIr() {
@@ -49,7 +49,10 @@
     }
     ret = hw_module->methods->open(hw_module, CONSUMERIR_TRANSMITTER, (hw_device_t **) &mDevice);
     if (ret < 0) {
+        // note - may want to make this a fatal error - otherwise the service will crash when it's used
         ALOGE("Can't open consumer IR transmitter, error: %d", ret);
+        // in case it's modified
+        mDevice = nullptr;
     }
 }