diff --git a/trusty/storage/proxy/Android.bp b/trusty/storage/proxy/Android.bp
index 2e97ee0..e362b8b 100644
--- a/trusty/storage/proxy/Android.bp
+++ b/trusty/storage/proxy/Android.bp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 
     shared_libs: [
         "libbase",
+        "libbinder_ndk",
         "libcutils",
         "liblog",
         "libhardware_legacy",
diff --git a/trusty/storage/proxy/proxy.c b/trusty/storage/proxy/proxy.c
index c89c5b6..3b744ec 100644
--- a/trusty/storage/proxy/proxy.c
+++ b/trusty/storage/proxy/proxy.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
+#include <android/binder_process.h>
 #include <cutils/android_filesystem_config.h>
 
 #include "checkpoint_handling.h"
@@ -238,6 +239,15 @@
     /* parse arguments */
     parse_args(argc, argv);
 
+    /*
+     * Start binder threadpool. At least one extra binder thread is needed to
+     * connect to the wakelock service without relying on polling. If we poll on
+     * the main thread we end up pausing for at least 1s even if the service
+     * starts faster.
+     */
+    ABinderProcess_setThreadPoolMaxThreadCount(1);
+    ABinderProcess_startThreadPool();
+
     /* initialize secure storage directory */
     rc = storage_init(ss_data_root);
     if (rc < 0) return EXIT_FAILURE;
diff --git a/trusty/storage/proxy/rpmb.c b/trusty/storage/proxy/rpmb.c
index 22a85a7..1f5d107 100644
--- a/trusty/storage/proxy/rpmb.c
+++ b/trusty/storage/proxy/rpmb.c
@@ -399,6 +399,14 @@
 
     bool is_request_write = req->reliable_write_size > 0;
 
+    /*
+     * Internally this call connects to the suspend service, which will cause
+     * this service to start if not already running. If the binder thread pool
+     * has not been started at this point, this call will block and poll for the
+     * service every 1s. We need to make sure the thread pool is started to
+     * receive an async notification that the service is started to avoid
+     * blocking (see main).
+     */
     wl_rc = acquire_wake_lock(PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK, UFS_WAKE_LOCK_NAME);
     if (wl_rc < 0) {
         ALOGE("%s: failed to acquire wakelock: %d, %s\n", __func__, wl_rc, strerror(errno));