diff --git a/client/cros/multimedia/audio_facade_native.py b/client/cros/multimedia/audio_facade_native.py
index a894b7e..461ab4e 100644
--- a/client/cros/multimedia/audio_facade_native.py
+++ b/client/cros/multimedia/audio_facade_native.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import functools
 import glob
 import logging
+import numpy as np
 import os
 import tempfile
 
@@ -40,6 +41,16 @@
     return wrapper
 
 
+def file_contains_all_zeros(path):
+    """Reads a file and checks whether the file contains all zeros."""
+    with open(path) as f:
+        binary = f.read()
+        # Assume data is in 16 bit signed int format. The real format
+        # does not matter though since we only care if there is nonzero data.
+        np_array = np.fromstring(binary, dtype='<i2')
+        return not np.any(np_array)
+
+
 class AudioFacadeNative(object):
     """Facede to access the audio-related functionality.
 
@@ -230,9 +241,14 @@
         """Stops recording an audio file.
 
         @returns: The path to the recorded file.
+                  None if capture device is not functional.
 
         """
         self._recorder.stop()
+        if file_contains_all_zeros(self._recorder.file_path):
+            logging.error('Recorded file contains all zeros. '
+                          'Capture device is not functional')
+            return None
         return self._recorder.file_path
 
 
diff --git a/server/cros/multimedia/audio_facade_adapter.py b/server/cros/multimedia/audio_facade_adapter.py
index f1af2f0..1a6a75f 100644
--- a/server/cros/multimedia/audio_facade_adapter.py
+++ b/server/cros/multimedia/audio_facade_adapter.py
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
 import tempfile
 
 
+class AudioFacadeError(Exception):
+    """Errors in audio facade."""
+    pass
+
+
 class AudioFacadeRemoteAdapter(object):
     """AudioFacadeRemoteAdapter is an adapter to remotely control DUT audio.
 
@@ -98,8 +103,14 @@
 
         @returns: the path to the recorded file on DUT.
 
+        @raises: AudioFacadeError if recorded path is None
         """
-        return self._audio_proxy.stop_recording()
+        path = self._audio_proxy.stop_recording()
+        if not path:
+            raise AudioFacadeError(
+                    'Recording does not work on DUT. '
+                    'Suggest checking messages on DUT')
+        return path
 
 
     def get_recorded_file(self, remote_path, local_path):