diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/extractor.cpp b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/extractor.cpp
index c5718d5..c85331b 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/extractor.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/extractor.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 bool Extractor::Init() {
     auto opener = factory_.CreateTestOpener(control_name_);
     handler_ = std::make_shared<SnapshotHandler>(control_name_, cow_path_, base_path_, base_path_,
-                                                 opener, 1, false, false);
+                                                 opener, 1, false, false, false);
     if (!handler_->InitCowDevice()) {
         return false;
     }
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
     }
 
     read_worker_ = std::make_unique<ReadWorker>(cow_path_, base_path_, control_name_, base_path_,
-                                                handler_->GetSharedPtr(), opener);
+                                                handler_->GetSharedPtr(), opener, false);
     if (!read_worker_->Init()) {
         return false;
     }
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/handler_manager.cpp b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/handler_manager.cpp
index ffd7a4b..711e704 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/handler_manager.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/handler_manager.cpp
@@ -51,10 +51,11 @@
 std::shared_ptr<HandlerThread> SnapshotHandlerManager::AddHandler(
         const std::string& misc_name, const std::string& cow_device_path,
         const std::string& backing_device, const std::string& base_path_merge,
-        std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener, int num_worker_threads, bool use_iouring) {
-    auto snapuserd = std::make_shared<SnapshotHandler>(misc_name, cow_device_path, backing_device,
-                                                       base_path_merge, opener, num_worker_threads,
-                                                       use_iouring, perform_verification_);
+        std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener, int num_worker_threads, bool use_iouring,
+        bool o_direct) {
+    auto snapuserd = std::make_shared<SnapshotHandler>(
+            misc_name, cow_device_path, backing_device, base_path_merge, opener, num_worker_threads,
+            use_iouring, perform_verification_, o_direct);
     if (!snapuserd->InitCowDevice()) {
         LOG(ERROR) << "Failed to initialize Snapuserd";
         return nullptr;
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/handler_manager.h b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/handler_manager.h
index ff6ee8f..f23f07e 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/handler_manager.h
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/handler_manager.h
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@
                                                       const std::string& backing_device,
                                                       const std::string& base_path_merge,
                                                       std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener,
-                                                      int num_worker_threads, bool use_iouring) = 0;
+                                                      int num_worker_threads, bool use_iouring,
+                                                      bool o_direct) = 0;
 
     // Start serving requests on a snapshot handler.
     virtual bool StartHandler(const std::string& misc_name) = 0;
@@ -96,7 +97,8 @@
                                               const std::string& backing_device,
                                               const std::string& base_path_merge,
                                               std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener,
-                                              int num_worker_threads, bool use_iouring) override;
+                                              int num_worker_threads, bool use_iouring,
+                                              bool o_direct) override;
     bool StartHandler(const std::string& misc_name) override;
     bool DeleteHandler(const std::string& misc_name) override;
     bool InitiateMerge(const std::string& misc_name) override;
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/merge_worker.cpp b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/merge_worker.cpp
index 3a56669..bcf9aab 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/merge_worker.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/merge_worker.cpp
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@
         return true;
     }
 
-    if (!SetThreadPriority(kNiceValueForMergeThreads)) {
+    if (!SetThreadPriority(ANDROID_PRIORITY_BACKGROUND)) {
         SNAP_PLOG(ERROR) << "Failed to set thread priority";
     }
 
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/read_worker.cpp b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/read_worker.cpp
index 431baf0..f1d4065 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/read_worker.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/read_worker.cpp
@@ -31,16 +31,19 @@
 void ReadWorker::CloseFds() {
     block_server_ = {};
     backing_store_fd_ = {};
+    backing_store_direct_fd_ = {};
     Worker::CloseFds();
 }
 
 ReadWorker::ReadWorker(const std::string& cow_device, const std::string& backing_device,
                        const std::string& misc_name, const std::string& base_path_merge,
                        std::shared_ptr<SnapshotHandler> snapuserd,
-                       std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener)
+                       std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener, bool direct_read)
     : Worker(cow_device, misc_name, base_path_merge, snapuserd),
       backing_store_device_(backing_device),
-      block_server_opener_(opener) {}
+      direct_read_(direct_read),
+      block_server_opener_(opener),
+      aligned_buffer_(std::unique_ptr<void, decltype(&::free)>(nullptr, &::free)) {}
 
 // Start the replace operation. This will read the
 // internal COW format and if the block is compressed,
@@ -61,6 +64,17 @@
     }
     SNAP_LOG(DEBUG) << " ReadFromBaseDevice...: new-block: " << cow_op->new_block
                     << " Op: " << *cow_op;
+
+    if (direct_read_ && IsBlockAligned(offset)) {
+        if (!android::base::ReadFullyAtOffset(backing_store_direct_fd_, aligned_buffer_.get(),
+                                              BLOCK_SZ, offset)) {
+            SNAP_PLOG(ERROR) << "O_DIRECT Read failed at offset: " << offset;
+            return false;
+        }
+        std::memcpy(buffer, aligned_buffer_.get(), BLOCK_SZ);
+        return true;
+    }
+
     if (!android::base::ReadFullyAtOffset(backing_store_fd_, buffer, BLOCK_SZ, offset)) {
         std::string op;
         if (cow_op->type() == kCowCopyOp)
@@ -201,6 +215,24 @@
         return false;
     }
 
+    if (direct_read_) {
+        backing_store_direct_fd_.reset(open(backing_store_device_.c_str(), O_RDONLY | O_DIRECT));
+        if (backing_store_direct_fd_ < 0) {
+            SNAP_PLOG(ERROR) << "Open Failed with O_DIRECT: " << backing_store_direct_fd_;
+            direct_read_ = false;
+        } else {
+            void* aligned_addr;
+            ssize_t page_size = getpagesize();
+            if (posix_memalign(&aligned_addr, page_size, page_size) < 0) {
+                direct_read_ = false;
+                SNAP_PLOG(ERROR) << "posix_memalign failed "
+                                 << " page_size: " << page_size << " read_sz: " << page_size;
+            } else {
+                aligned_buffer_.reset(aligned_addr);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     block_server_ = block_server_opener_->Open(this, PAYLOAD_BUFFER_SZ);
     if (!block_server_) {
         SNAP_PLOG(ERROR) << "Unable to open block server";
@@ -214,7 +246,7 @@
 
     pthread_setname_np(pthread_self(), "ReadWorker");
 
-    if (!SetThreadPriority(kNiceValueForMergeThreads)) {
+    if (!SetThreadPriority(ANDROID_PRIORITY_NORMAL)) {
         SNAP_PLOG(ERROR) << "Failed to set thread priority";
     }
 
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/read_worker.h b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/read_worker.h
index 6dbae81..1aff50c 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/read_worker.h
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/read_worker.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     ReadWorker(const std::string& cow_device, const std::string& backing_device,
                const std::string& misc_name, const std::string& base_path_merge,
                std::shared_ptr<SnapshotHandler> snapuserd,
-               std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener);
+               std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener, bool direct_read = false);
 
     bool Run();
     bool Init() override;
@@ -59,11 +59,14 @@
 
     std::string backing_store_device_;
     unique_fd backing_store_fd_;
+    unique_fd backing_store_direct_fd_;
+    bool direct_read_ = false;
 
     std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> block_server_opener_;
     std::unique_ptr<IBlockServer> block_server_;
 
     std::basic_string<uint8_t> xor_buffer_;
+    std::unique_ptr<void, decltype(&::free)> aligned_buffer_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace snapshot
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_core.cpp b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_core.cpp
index 9b8c70d..05ba047 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_core.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_core.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 SnapshotHandler::SnapshotHandler(std::string misc_name, std::string cow_device,
                                  std::string backing_device, std::string base_path_merge,
                                  std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener, int num_worker_threads,
-                                 bool use_iouring, bool perform_verification) {
+                                 bool use_iouring, bool perform_verification, bool o_direct) {
     misc_name_ = std::move(misc_name);
     cow_device_ = std::move(cow_device);
     backing_store_device_ = std::move(backing_device);
@@ -45,13 +45,14 @@
     num_worker_threads_ = num_worker_threads;
     is_io_uring_enabled_ = use_iouring;
     perform_verification_ = perform_verification;
+    o_direct_ = o_direct;
 }
 
 bool SnapshotHandler::InitializeWorkers() {
     for (int i = 0; i < num_worker_threads_; i++) {
         auto wt = std::make_unique<ReadWorker>(cow_device_, backing_store_device_, misc_name_,
                                                base_path_merge_, GetSharedPtr(),
-                                               block_server_opener_);
+                                               block_server_opener_, o_direct_);
         if (!wt->Init()) {
             SNAP_LOG(ERROR) << "Thread initialization failed";
             return false;
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_core.h b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_core.h
index fa1e7a0..9b7238a 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_core.h
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_core.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 #include <snapuserd/snapuserd_buffer.h>
 #include <snapuserd/snapuserd_kernel.h>
 #include <storage_literals/storage_literals.h>
+#include <system/thread_defs.h>
 #include "snapuserd_readahead.h"
 #include "snapuserd_verify.h"
 
@@ -62,8 +63,6 @@
 
 static constexpr int kNumWorkerThreads = 4;
 
-static constexpr int kNiceValueForMergeThreads = -5;
-
 #define SNAP_LOG(level) LOG(level) << misc_name_ << ": "
 #define SNAP_PLOG(level) PLOG(level) << misc_name_ << ": "
 
@@ -105,7 +104,7 @@
   public:
     SnapshotHandler(std::string misc_name, std::string cow_device, std::string backing_device,
                     std::string base_path_merge, std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> opener,
-                    int num_workers, bool use_iouring, bool perform_verification);
+                    int num_workers, bool use_iouring, bool perform_verification, bool o_direct);
     bool InitCowDevice();
     bool Start();
 
@@ -247,6 +246,7 @@
     bool perform_verification_ = true;
     bool resume_merge_ = false;
     bool merge_complete_ = false;
+    bool o_direct_ = false;
 
     std::unique_ptr<UpdateVerify> update_verify_;
     std::shared_ptr<IBlockServerOpener> block_server_opener_;
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_readahead.cpp b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_readahead.cpp
index 034cda1..c08c1b1 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_readahead.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_readahead.cpp
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@
 
     InitializeIouring();
 
-    if (!SetThreadPriority(kNiceValueForMergeThreads)) {
+    if (!SetThreadPriority(ANDROID_PRIORITY_BACKGROUND)) {
         SNAP_PLOG(ERROR) << "Failed to set thread priority";
     }
 
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_server.cpp b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_server.cpp
index 6eee357..0b881b6 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_server.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_server.cpp
@@ -346,7 +346,8 @@
 std::shared_ptr<HandlerThread> UserSnapshotServer::AddHandler(const std::string& misc_name,
                                                               const std::string& cow_device_path,
                                                               const std::string& backing_device,
-                                                              const std::string& base_path_merge) {
+                                                              const std::string& base_path_merge,
+                                                              const bool o_direct) {
     // We will need multiple worker threads only during
     // device boot after OTA. For all other purposes,
     // one thread is sufficient. We don't want to consume
@@ -368,7 +369,7 @@
     auto opener = block_server_factory_->CreateOpener(misc_name);
 
     return handlers_->AddHandler(misc_name, cow_device_path, backing_device, base_path_merge,
-                                 opener, num_worker_threads, io_uring_enabled_);
+                                 opener, num_worker_threads, io_uring_enabled_, o_direct);
 }
 
 bool UserSnapshotServer::WaitForSocket() {
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_server.h b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_server.h
index 9926071..3013c47 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_server.h
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_server.h
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@
     std::shared_ptr<HandlerThread> AddHandler(const std::string& misc_name,
                                               const std::string& cow_device_path,
                                               const std::string& backing_device,
-                                              const std::string& base_path_merge);
+                                              const std::string& base_path_merge,
+                                              bool o_direct = false);
     bool StartHandler(const std::string& misc_name);
 
     void SetTerminating() { terminating_ = true; }
diff --git a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_test.cpp b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_test.cpp
index 73c3cbf..8ddb0f4 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_test.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/libsnapshot/snapuserd/user-space-merge/snapuserd_test.cpp
@@ -59,10 +59,16 @@
 using testing::AssertionFailure;
 using testing::AssertionResult;
 using testing::AssertionSuccess;
+using ::testing::TestWithParam;
 
-class SnapuserdTestBase : public ::testing::TestWithParam<bool> {
+struct TestParam {
+    bool io_uring;
+    bool o_direct;
+};
+
+class SnapuserdTestBase : public ::testing::TestWithParam<TestParam> {
   protected:
-    void SetUp() override;
+    virtual void SetUp() override;
     void TearDown() override;
     void CreateBaseDevice();
     void CreateCowDevice();
@@ -628,9 +634,10 @@
     auto factory = harness_->GetBlockServerFactory();
     auto opener = factory->CreateOpener(system_device_ctrl_name_);
     handlers_->DisableVerification();
-    auto handler =
-            handlers_->AddHandler(system_device_ctrl_name_, cow_system_->path, base_dev_->GetPath(),
-                                  base_dev_->GetPath(), opener, 1, GetParam());
+    const TestParam params = GetParam();
+    auto handler = handlers_->AddHandler(system_device_ctrl_name_, cow_system_->path,
+                                         base_dev_->GetPath(), base_dev_->GetPath(), opener, 1,
+                                         params.io_uring, params.o_direct);
     ASSERT_NE(handler, nullptr);
     ASSERT_NE(handler->snapuserd(), nullptr);
 #ifdef __ANDROID__
@@ -898,9 +905,10 @@
     opener_ = factory_.CreateTestOpener(system_device_ctrl_name_);
     ASSERT_NE(opener_, nullptr);
 
+    const TestParam params = GetParam();
     handler_ = std::make_shared<SnapshotHandler>(system_device_ctrl_name_, cow_system_->path,
                                                  base_dev_->GetPath(), base_dev_->GetPath(),
-                                                 opener_, 1, false, false);
+                                                 opener_, 1, false, false, params.o_direct);
     ASSERT_TRUE(handler_->InitCowDevice());
     ASSERT_TRUE(handler_->InitializeWorkers());
 
@@ -990,14 +998,28 @@
     return {false, true};
 }
 
-std::string IoUringConfigName(const testing::TestParamInfo<SnapuserdTest::ParamType>& info) {
-    return info.param ? "io_uring" : "sync";
+std::vector<TestParam> GetTestConfigs() {
+    std::vector<TestParam> testParams;
+    std::vector<bool> uring_configs = GetIoUringConfigs();
+
+    for (bool config : uring_configs) {
+        TestParam param;
+        param.io_uring = config;
+        param.o_direct = false;
+        testParams.push_back(std::move(param));
+    }
+
+    for (bool config : uring_configs) {
+        TestParam param;
+        param.io_uring = config;
+        param.o_direct = true;
+        testParams.push_back(std::move(param));
+    }
+    return testParams;
 }
 
-INSTANTIATE_TEST_SUITE_P(Io, SnapuserdTest, ::testing::ValuesIn(GetIoUringConfigs()),
-                         IoUringConfigName);
-INSTANTIATE_TEST_SUITE_P(Io, HandlerTest, ::testing::ValuesIn(GetIoUringConfigs()),
-                         IoUringConfigName);
+INSTANTIATE_TEST_SUITE_P(Io, SnapuserdTest, ::testing::ValuesIn(GetTestConfigs()));
+INSTANTIATE_TEST_SUITE_P(Io, HandlerTest, ::testing::ValuesIn(GetTestConfigs()));
 
 }  // namespace snapshot
 }  // namespace android