diff --git a/guest/microdroid_manager/microdroid_manager.rc b/guest/microdroid_manager/microdroid_manager.rc
index 9fa8a9d..48cc6d7 100644
--- a/guest/microdroid_manager/microdroid_manager.rc
+++ b/guest/microdroid_manager/microdroid_manager.rc
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
     # CAP_SYS_BOOT is required to exec kexecload from microdroid_manager
     # CAP_SETPCAP is required to allow microdroid_manager to drop capabilities
     #   before executing the payload
-    capabilities AUDIT_CONTROL SYS_ADMIN SYS_BOOT SETPCAP SETUID SETGID
+    # CAP_SYS_NICE is required for microdroid_manager to adjust priority of the payload
+    capabilities AUDIT_CONTROL SYS_ADMIN SYS_BOOT SETPCAP SETUID SETGID SYS_NICE
     user root
     socket vm_payload_service stream 0666 system system
diff --git a/guest/microdroid_manager/src/main.rs b/guest/microdroid_manager/src/main.rs
index 4537834..a95bcb2 100644
--- a/guest/microdroid_manager/src/main.rs
+++ b/guest/microdroid_manager/src/main.rs
@@ -710,7 +710,21 @@
     info!("notifying payload started");
     service.notifyPayloadStarted()?;
 
-    let exit_status = command.spawn()?.wait()?;
+    let mut payload_process = command.spawn().context("failed to spawn payload process")?;
+    info!("payload pid = {:?}", payload_process.id());
+
+    // SAFETY: setpriority doesn't take any pointers
+    unsafe {
+        let ret = libc::setpriority(libc::PRIO_PROCESS, payload_process.id(), -20);
+        if ret != 0 {
+            error!(
+                "failed to adjust priority of the payload: {:#?}",
+                std::io::Error::last_os_error()
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    let exit_status = payload_process.wait()?;
     match exit_status.code() {
         Some(exit_code) => Ok(exit_code),
         None => Err(match exit_status.signal() {