diff --git a/audio/common/all-versions/default/service/android.hardware.audio.service.rc b/audio/common/all-versions/default/service/android.hardware.audio.service.rc
index f859f21..0de4eea 100644
--- a/audio/common/all-versions/default/service/android.hardware.audio.service.rc
+++ b/audio/common/all-versions/default/service/android.hardware.audio.service.rc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     user audioserver
     # media gid needed for /dev/fm (radio) and for /data/misc/media (tee)
     group audio camera drmrpc inet media mediadrm net_bt net_bt_admin net_bw_acct wakelock context_hub
-    capabilities BLOCK_SUSPEND
+    capabilities BLOCK_SUSPEND SYS_NICE
     # setting RLIMIT_RTPRIO allows binder RT priority inheritance
     rlimit rtprio 10 10
     ioprio rt 4