diff --git a/media/libaudioclient/IAudioFlinger.cpp b/media/libaudioclient/IAudioFlinger.cpp
index aca95db0c9..00678c2371 100644
--- a/media/libaudioclient/IAudioFlinger.cpp
+++ b/media/libaudioclient/IAudioFlinger.cpp
@@ -638,10 +638,10 @@ public:
         sp<IEffect> effect;
 
         if (pDesc == NULL) {
-            return effect;
             if (status != NULL) {
                 *status = BAD_VALUE;
             }
+            return effect;
         }
 
         data.writeInterfaceToken(IAudioFlinger::getInterfaceDescriptor());