diff --git a/audio/aidl/common/include/StreamWorker.h b/audio/aidl/common/include/StreamWorker.h
index ab2ec26..e9c1070 100644
--- a/audio/aidl/common/include/StreamWorker.h
+++ b/audio/aidl/common/include/StreamWorker.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 namespace internal {
 
 class ThreadController {
-    enum class WorkerState { STOPPED, RUNNING, PAUSE_REQUESTED, PAUSED, RESUME_REQUESTED };
+    enum class WorkerState { INITIAL, STOPPED, RUNNING, PAUSE_REQUESTED, PAUSED, RESUME_REQUESTED };
 
   public:
     explicit ThreadController(StreamLogic* logic) : mLogic(logic) {}
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
     std::thread mWorker;
     std::mutex mWorkerLock;
     std::condition_variable mWorkerCv;
-    WorkerState mWorkerState GUARDED_BY(mWorkerLock) = WorkerState::STOPPED;
+    WorkerState mWorkerState GUARDED_BY(mWorkerLock) = WorkerState::INITIAL;
     std::string mError GUARDED_BY(mWorkerLock);
     // The atomic lock-free variable is used to prevent priority inversions
     // that can occur when a high priority worker tries to acquire the lock
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@
     std::atomic<bool> mWorkerStateChangeRequest GUARDED_BY(mWorkerLock) = false;
 };
 
+// A special thread name used in tests only.
+static const std::string kTestSingleThread = "__testST__";
+
 }  // namespace internal
 
 class StreamLogic {