diff --git a/media/libaudiohal/HalDeathHandlerHidl.cpp b/media/libaudiohal/HalDeathHandlerHidl.cpp
index 1e3ab58..6e33523 100644
--- a/media/libaudiohal/HalDeathHandlerHidl.cpp
+++ b/media/libaudiohal/HalDeathHandlerHidl.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
         handler.second();
     }
     ALOGE("HAL server crashed, audio server is restarting");
-    exit(1);
+    _exit(1);  // Avoid calling atexit handlers, as this code runs on a thread from RPC threadpool.
 }
 
 } // namespace android