diff --git a/graphics/composer/2.1/utils/hal/include/composer-hal/2.1/Composer.h b/graphics/composer/2.1/utils/hal/include/composer-hal/2.1/Composer.h
index ad985dafa3..90d9b982a7 100644
--- a/graphics/composer/2.1/utils/hal/include/composer-hal/2.1/Composer.h
+++ b/graphics/composer/2.1/utils/hal/include/composer-hal/2.1/Composer.h
@@ -109,12 +109,10 @@ class ComposerImpl : public Interface {
             // inverted (create and then destroy). Wait for a brief period to
             // see if the existing client is destroyed.
             ALOGD("waiting for previous client to be destroyed");
-            mClientDestroyedCondition.wait_for(
-                lock, 1s, [this]() -> bool { return mClient.promote() == nullptr; });
-            if (mClient.promote() != nullptr) {
+            mClientDestroyedCondition.wait_for(lock, 1s,
+                                               [this]() -> bool { return mClient == nullptr; });
+            if (mClient != nullptr) {
                 ALOGD("previous client was not destroyed");
-            } else {
-                mClient.clear();
             }
         }