diff --git a/graphics/mapper/2.0/IMapper.hal b/graphics/mapper/2.0/IMapper.hal
index 246be24..4ee206b 100644
--- a/graphics/mapper/2.0/IMapper.hal
+++ b/graphics/mapper/2.0/IMapper.hal
@@ -85,10 +85,11 @@
      * Imports a raw buffer handle to create an imported buffer handle for use
      * with the rest of the mapper or with other in-process libraries.
      *
-     * A buffer handle is considered raw when it is cloned or when it is
-     * received from another HAL or another process. A raw buffer handle must
-     * not be used to access the underlying graphics buffer. It must be
-     * imported to create an imported handle first.
+     * A buffer handle is considered raw when it is cloned (e.g., with
+     * native_handle_clone) from another buffer handle locally, or when it is
+     * received from another HAL server/client or another process. A raw
+     * buffer handle must not be used to access the underlying graphics
+     * buffer. It must be imported to create an imported handle first.
      *
      * This function must at least validate the raw handle before creating the
      * imported handle. It must also support importing the same raw handle
@@ -96,6 +97,12 @@
      * must be considered valid everywhere in the process, including in
      * another instance of the mapper.
      *
+     * Because of passthrough HALs, a raw buffer handle received from a HAL
+     * may actually have been imported in the process. importBuffer must treat
+     * such a handle as if it is raw and must not return BAD_BUFFER. The
+     * returned handle is independent from the input handle as usual, and
+     * freeBuffer must be called on it when it is no longer needed.
+     *
      * @param rawHandle is the raw buffer handle to import.
      * @return error is NONE upon success. Otherwise,
      *                  BAD_BUFFER when the raw handle is invalid.
diff --git a/graphics/mapper/2.0/default/GrallocMapper.cpp b/graphics/mapper/2.0/default/GrallocMapper.cpp
index 6441af6..d16143d 100644
--- a/graphics/mapper/2.0/default/GrallocMapper.cpp
+++ b/graphics/mapper/2.0/default/GrallocMapper.cpp
@@ -125,11 +125,8 @@
 
 Return<void> GrallocMapper::importBuffer(const hidl_handle& rawHandle,
                                          importBuffer_cb hidl_cb) {
-    // importing an already imported handle rather than a raw handle
-    if (gRegisteredHandles->get(rawHandle.getNativeHandle())) {
-        hidl_cb(Error::BAD_BUFFER, nullptr);
-        return Void();
-    }
+    // because of passthrough HALs, we must not generate an error when
+    // rawHandle has been imported
 
     if (!rawHandle.getNativeHandle()) {
         hidl_cb(Error::BAD_BUFFER, nullptr);
diff --git a/graphics/mapper/2.0/vts/functional/VtsHalGraphicsMapperV2_0TargetTest.cpp b/graphics/mapper/2.0/vts/functional/VtsHalGraphicsMapperV2_0TargetTest.cpp
index f066a1e..c74013b 100644
--- a/graphics/mapper/2.0/vts/functional/VtsHalGraphicsMapperV2_0TargetTest.cpp
+++ b/graphics/mapper/2.0/vts/functional/VtsHalGraphicsMapperV2_0TargetTest.cpp
@@ -216,18 +216,6 @@
             << "importBuffer with invalid handle did not fail with BAD_BUFFER";
     });
     native_handle_delete(invalidHandle);
-
-    const native_handle_t* importedHandle;
-    ASSERT_NO_FATAL_FAILURE(importedHandle =
-                                mGralloc->allocate(mDummyDescriptorInfo, true));
-    mGralloc->getMapper()->importBuffer(
-        importedHandle, [&](const auto& tmpError, const auto&) {
-            EXPECT_EQ(Error::BAD_BUFFER, tmpError)
-                << "importBuffer with an "
-                   "already imported handle did "
-                   "not fail with BAD_BUFFER";
-        });
-    mGralloc->freeBuffer(importedHandle);
 }
 
 /**