diff --git a/graphics/composer/2.1/default/android.hardware.graphics.composer@2.1-service.rc b/graphics/composer/2.1/default/android.hardware.graphics.composer@2.1-service.rc
index 5a5b51e8e1..a2a12c1a22 100644
--- a/graphics/composer/2.1/default/android.hardware.graphics.composer@2.1-service.rc
+++ b/graphics/composer/2.1/default/android.hardware.graphics.composer@2.1-service.rc
@@ -3,5 +3,9 @@ service vendor.hwcomposer-2-1 /vendor/bin/hw/android.hardware.graphics.composer@
     user system
     group graphics drmrpc
     capabilities SYS_NICE
-    onrestart restart surfaceflinger
     writepid /dev/cpuset/system-background/tasks
+
+# Restart HWC when SurfaceFlinger stops. This turns off the display and prpares
+# a new HWC instance for when SurfaceFlinger gets started again
+on property:init.svc.surfaceflinger=stopped
+    restart vendor.hwcomposer-2-1