diff --git a/hal/audio_hw.c b/hal/audio_hw.c
index a96a509..35b726e 100644
--- a/hal/audio_hw.c
+++ b/hal/audio_hw.c
@@ -233,6 +233,8 @@
 static struct audio_device *adev = NULL;
 static pthread_mutex_t adev_init_lock;
 static unsigned int audio_device_ref_count;
+//cache last MBDRC cal step level
+static int last_known_cal_step = -1 ;
 
 static bool may_use_noirq_mode(struct audio_device *adev, audio_usecase_t uc_id,
                                int flags __unused)
@@ -380,6 +382,13 @@
         pthread_mutex_lock(&adev->lock);
         ret_val = platform_send_gain_dep_cal(adev->platform, level);
         pthread_mutex_unlock(&adev->lock);
+
+        // if cal set fails, cache level info
+        // if cal set succeds, reset known last cal set
+        if (!ret_val)
+            last_known_cal_step = level;
+        else if (last_known_cal_step != -1)
+            last_known_cal_step = -1;
     } else {
         ALOGE("%s: %s is NULL", __func__, adev == NULL ? "adev" : "adev->platform");
     }
@@ -1995,6 +2004,11 @@
             out->standby = true;
             goto exit;
         }
+
+        if (last_known_cal_step != -1) {
+            ALOGD("%s: retry previous failed cal level set", __func__);
+            audio_hw_send_gain_dep_calibration(last_known_cal_step);
+        }
     }
 
     if (out->usecase == USECASE_AUDIO_PLAYBACK_OFFLOAD) {
diff --git a/hal/msm8916/platform.c b/hal/msm8916/platform.c
index 683723f..52e9fd8 100644
--- a/hal/msm8916/platform.c
+++ b/hal/msm8916/platform.c
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@
 
 bool platform_send_gain_dep_cal(void *platform __unused, int level __unused)
 {
-    return 0;
+    return true;
 }
 
 void platform_set_echo_reference(struct audio_device *adev, bool enable,
diff --git a/hal/msm8960/platform.c b/hal/msm8960/platform.c
index e11db63..d7fc84c 100644
--- a/hal/msm8960/platform.c
+++ b/hal/msm8960/platform.c
@@ -1072,7 +1072,7 @@
 bool platform_send_gain_dep_cal(void *platform __unused,
                                 int level __unused)
 {
-    return 0;
+    return true;
 }
 
 bool platform_can_split_snd_device(snd_device_t in_snd_device __unused,
diff --git a/post_proc/volume_listener.c b/post_proc/volume_listener.c
index 897dd8f..3367b76 100644
--- a/post_proc/volume_listener.c
+++ b/post_proc/volume_listener.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 
 #define AHAL_GAIN_DEPENDENT_INTERFACE_FUNCTION "audio_hw_send_gain_dep_calibration"
 #define AHAL_GAIN_GET_MAPPING_TABLE "audio_hw_get_gain_level_mapping"
+#define DEFAULT_CAL_STEP 0
 
 enum {
     VOL_LISTENER_STATE_UNINITIALIZED,
@@ -232,7 +233,7 @@
     // 4. if new value is different than the current value then load new calibration
 
     struct listnode *node = NULL;
-    float new_vol = 0.0;
+    float new_vol = -1.0;
     int max_level = 0;
     vol_listener_context_t *context = NULL;
     if (dumping_enabled) {
@@ -261,7 +262,9 @@
 
             if (new_vol >= 1 && total_volume_cal_step > 0) { // max amplitude, use highest DRC level
                 gain_dep_cal_level = volume_curve_gain_mapping_table[total_volume_cal_step - 1].level;
-            } else if (new_vol <= 0) {
+            } else if (new_vol == -1) {
+                gain_dep_cal_level = DEFAULT_CAL_STEP;
+            } else if (new_vol == 0) {
                 gain_dep_cal_level = volume_curve_gain_mapping_table[0].level;
             } else {
                 for (max_level = 0; max_level + 1 < total_volume_cal_step; max_level++) {