diff --git a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
index 2d856ada405dd..09d79542bd64c 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
@@ -7551,7 +7551,8 @@ void AudioFlinger::EffectChain::setEffectSuspendedAll_l(bool suspend)
             ALOGV("setEffectSuspendedAll_l() add entry for 0");
         }
         if (desc->mRefCount++ == 0) {
-            Vector< sp<EffectModule> > effects = getSuspendEligibleEffects();
+            Vector< sp<EffectModule> > effects;
+            getSuspendEligibleEffects(effects);
             for (size_t i = 0; i < effects.size(); i++) {
                 setEffectSuspended_l(&effects[i]->desc().type, true);
             }
@@ -7602,16 +7603,14 @@ bool AudioFlinger::EffectChain::isEffectEligibleForSuspend(const effect_descript
     return true;
 }
 
-Vector< sp<AudioFlinger::EffectModule> > AudioFlinger::EffectChain::getSuspendEligibleEffects()
+void AudioFlinger::EffectChain::getSuspendEligibleEffects(Vector< sp<AudioFlinger::EffectModule> > &effects)
 {
-    Vector< sp<EffectModule> > effects;
+    effects.clear();
     for (size_t i = 0; i < mEffects.size(); i++) {
-        if (!isEffectEligibleForSuspend(mEffects[i]->desc())) {
-            continue;
+        if (isEffectEligibleForSuspend(mEffects[i]->desc())) {
+            effects.add(mEffects[i]);
         }
-        effects.add(mEffects[i]);
     }
-    return effects;
 }
 
 sp<AudioFlinger::EffectModule> AudioFlinger::EffectChain::getEffectIfEnabled(
diff --git a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.h b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.h
index 766ba44343bb9..16048c85426ea 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.h
+++ b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.h
@@ -1325,7 +1325,8 @@ mutable Mutex               mLock;      // mutex for process, commands and handl
 
         // get a list of effect modules to suspend when an effect of the type
         // passed is enabled.
-        Vector< sp<EffectModule> > getSuspendEligibleEffects();
+        void                       getSuspendEligibleEffects(Vector< sp<EffectModule> > &effects);
+
         // get an effect module if it is currently enable
         sp<EffectModule> getEffectIfEnabled(const effect_uuid_t *type);
         // true if the effect whose descriptor is passed can be suspended