diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/SoundTriggerHalWatchdog.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/SoundTriggerHalWatchdog.java
index 5fe06eef146d2..227424ea1780f 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/SoundTriggerHalWatchdog.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/SoundTriggerHalWatchdog.java
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ import android.os.IBinder;
 import android.util.Log;
 
 import java.util.Objects;
-import java.util.Timer;
-import java.util.TimerTask;
 
 /**
  * An {@link ISoundTriggerHal} decorator that would enforce deadlines on all calls and reboot the
@@ -38,11 +36,11 @@ public class SoundTriggerHalWatchdog implements ISoundTriggerHal {
     private static final String TAG = "SoundTriggerHalWatchdog";
 
     private final @NonNull ISoundTriggerHal mUnderlying;
-    private final @NonNull Timer mTimer;
+    private final @NonNull UptimeTimer mTimer;
 
     public SoundTriggerHalWatchdog(@NonNull ISoundTriggerHal underlying) {
         mUnderlying = Objects.requireNonNull(underlying);
-        mTimer = new Timer("SoundTriggerHalWatchdog");
+        mTimer = new UptimeTimer("SoundTriggerHalWatchdog");
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -155,21 +153,16 @@ public class SoundTriggerHalWatchdog implements ISoundTriggerHal {
     }
 
     private class Watchdog implements AutoCloseable {
-        private final @NonNull
-        TimerTask mTask;
+        private final @NonNull UptimeTimer.Task mTask;
         // This exception is used merely for capturing a stack trace at the time of creation.
         private final @NonNull
         Exception mException = new Exception();
 
         Watchdog() {
-            mTask = new TimerTask() {
-                @Override
-                public void run() {
-                    Log.e(TAG, "HAL deadline expired. Rebooting.", mException);
-                    reboot();
-                }
-            };
-            mTimer.schedule(mTask, TIMEOUT_MS);
+            mTask = mTimer.createTask(() -> {
+                Log.e(TAG, "HAL deadline expired. Rebooting.", mException);
+                reboot();
+            }, TIMEOUT_MS);
         }
 
         @Override
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/UptimeTimer.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/UptimeTimer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..bfcc7d840662e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/UptimeTimer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2021 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.server.soundtrigger_middleware;
+
+import android.annotation.NonNull;
+import android.os.Handler;
+import android.os.Looper;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
+
+/**
+ * A simple timer, similar to java.util.Timer, but using the "uptime clock".
+ *
+ * Example usage:
+ * UptimeTimer timer = new UptimeTimer("TimerThread");
+ * UptimeTimer.Task task = timer.createTask(() -> { ... }, 100);
+ * ...
+ * // optionally, some time later:
+ * task.cancel();
+ */
+class UptimeTimer {
+    private Handler mHandler = null;
+
+    interface Task {
+        void cancel();
+    }
+
+    UptimeTimer(String threadName) {
+        new Thread(this::threadFunc, threadName).start();
+        synchronized (this) {
+            while (mHandler == null) {
+                try {
+                    wait();
+                } catch (InterruptedException e) {
+                    throw new RuntimeException(e);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Task createTask(@NonNull Runnable runnable, long uptimeMs) {
+        TaskImpl task = new TaskImpl(runnable);
+        mHandler.postDelayed(task, uptimeMs);
+        return task;
+    }
+
+    private void threadFunc() {
+        Looper.prepare();
+        synchronized (this) {
+            mHandler = new Handler(Looper.myLooper());
+            notifyAll();
+        }
+        Looper.loop();
+    }
+
+    private static class TaskImpl implements Task, Runnable {
+        private AtomicReference<Runnable> mRunnable = new AtomicReference<>();
+
+        TaskImpl(@NonNull Runnable runnable) {
+            mRunnable.set(runnable);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void cancel() {
+            mRunnable.set(null);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void run() {
+            Runnable runnable = mRunnable.get();
+            if (runnable != null) {
+                runnable.run();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/services/tests/servicestests/src/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/UptimeTimerTest.java b/services/tests/servicestests/src/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/UptimeTimerTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..38297bf624b7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/tests/servicestests/src/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/UptimeTimerTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2021 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.server.soundtrigger_middleware;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+
+import androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnit4;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
+
+@RunWith(AndroidJUnit4.class)
+public class UptimeTimerTest {
+    private static final String TAG = "UptimeTimerTest";
+
+    @Test
+    public void testBasic() throws InterruptedException {
+        AtomicBoolean taskRan = new AtomicBoolean(false);
+        UptimeTimer timer = new UptimeTimer("TestTimer");
+        timer.createTask(() -> taskRan.set(true), 100);
+        Thread.sleep(50);
+        boolean before = taskRan.get();
+        Thread.sleep(100);
+        boolean after = taskRan.get();
+        assertFalse(before);
+        assertTrue(after);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testCancel() throws InterruptedException {
+        AtomicBoolean taskRan = new AtomicBoolean(false);
+        UptimeTimer timer = new UptimeTimer("TestTimer");
+        UptimeTimer.Task task = timer.createTask(() -> taskRan.set(true), 100);
+        Thread.sleep(50);
+        boolean before = taskRan.get();
+        task.cancel();
+        Thread.sleep(100);
+        boolean after = taskRan.get();
+        assertFalse(before);
+        assertFalse(after);
+    }
+}