diff --git a/services/voiceinteraction/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/FakeSoundTriggerHal.java b/services/voiceinteraction/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/FakeSoundTriggerHal.java
index 86c4bbfe56b81..b76e3e90fadef 100644
--- a/services/voiceinteraction/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/FakeSoundTriggerHal.java
+++ b/services/voiceinteraction/java/com/android/server/soundtrigger_middleware/FakeSoundTriggerHal.java
@@ -465,7 +465,9 @@ public class FakeSoundTriggerHal extends ISoundTriggerHw.Stub {
             if (session == null) {
                 Slog.wtf(TAG, "Attempted to start recognition with invalid handle");
             }
-
+            if (mIsResourceContended) {
+                throw new ServiceSpecificException(Status.RESOURCE_CONTENTION);
+            }
             if (session.getIsUnloaded()) {
                 // TODO(b/274470274) this is a deficiency in the existing HAL API, there is no way
                 // to handle this race gracefully