diff --git a/audio/core/all-versions/default/StreamIn.cpp b/audio/core/all-versions/default/StreamIn.cpp
index 599f3c396e..17621a9acf 100644
--- a/audio/core/all-versions/default/StreamIn.cpp
+++ b/audio/core/all-versions/default/StreamIn.cpp
@@ -412,9 +412,9 @@ Return<void> StreamIn::prepareForReading(uint32_t frameSize, uint32_t framesCoun
     }
 
     // Create and launch the thread.
-    auto tempReadThread =
-        std::make_unique<ReadThread>(&mStopReadThread, mStream, tempCommandMQ.get(),
-                                     tempDataMQ.get(), tempStatusMQ.get(), tempElfGroup.get());
+    sp<ReadThread> tempReadThread =
+            new ReadThread(&mStopReadThread, mStream, tempCommandMQ.get(), tempDataMQ.get(),
+                           tempStatusMQ.get(), tempElfGroup.get());
     if (!tempReadThread->init()) {
         ALOGW("failed to start reader thread: %s", strerror(-status));
         sendError(Result::INVALID_ARGUMENTS);
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ Return<void> StreamIn::prepareForReading(uint32_t frameSize, uint32_t framesCoun
     mCommandMQ = std::move(tempCommandMQ);
     mDataMQ = std::move(tempDataMQ);
     mStatusMQ = std::move(tempStatusMQ);
-    mReadThread = tempReadThread.release();
+    mReadThread = tempReadThread;
     mEfGroup = tempElfGroup.release();
 #if MAJOR_VERSION <= 6
     threadInfo.pid = getpid();
diff --git a/audio/core/all-versions/default/StreamOut.cpp b/audio/core/all-versions/default/StreamOut.cpp
index 4fe6601cd2..c23922dbb6 100644
--- a/audio/core/all-versions/default/StreamOut.cpp
+++ b/audio/core/all-versions/default/StreamOut.cpp
@@ -398,9 +398,9 @@ Return<void> StreamOut::prepareForWriting(uint32_t frameSize, uint32_t framesCou
     }
 
     // Create and launch the thread.
-    auto tempWriteThread =
-        std::make_unique<WriteThread>(&mStopWriteThread, mStream, tempCommandMQ.get(),
-                                      tempDataMQ.get(), tempStatusMQ.get(), tempElfGroup.get());
+    sp<WriteThread> tempWriteThread =
+            new WriteThread(&mStopWriteThread, mStream, tempCommandMQ.get(), tempDataMQ.get(),
+                            tempStatusMQ.get(), tempElfGroup.get());
     if (!tempWriteThread->init()) {
         ALOGW("failed to start writer thread: %s", strerror(-status));
         sendError(Result::INVALID_ARGUMENTS);
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ Return<void> StreamOut::prepareForWriting(uint32_t frameSize, uint32_t framesCou
     mCommandMQ = std::move(tempCommandMQ);
     mDataMQ = std::move(tempDataMQ);
     mStatusMQ = std::move(tempStatusMQ);
-    mWriteThread = tempWriteThread.release();
+    mWriteThread = tempWriteThread;
     mEfGroup = tempElfGroup.release();
 #if MAJOR_VERSION <= 6
     threadInfo.pid = getpid();