diff --git a/post_proc/volume_listener.c b/post_proc/volume_listener.c
index cf15f1c..280bfe3 100644
--- a/post_proc/volume_listener.c
+++ b/post_proc/volume_listener.c
@@ -667,20 +667,31 @@
     struct listnode *node, *temp_node_next;
     vol_listener_context_t *context = NULL;
     vol_listener_context_t *recv_contex = (vol_listener_context_t *)handle;
-    int status = -1;
+    int status = -EINVAL;
     bool recompute_flag = false;
     int active_stream_count = 0;
+    uint32_t session_id;
+    uint32_t stream_type;
+    effect_uuid_t uuid;
+
     ALOGV("%s context %p", __func__, handle);
+
+    if (recv_contex == NULL) {
+        return status;
+    }
     pthread_mutex_lock(&vol_listner_init_lock);
+    session_id = recv_contex->session_id;
+    stream_type = recv_contex->stream_type;
+    uuid = recv_contex->desc->uuid;
 
     // check if the handle/context provided is valid
     list_for_each_safe(node, temp_node_next, &vol_effect_list) {
         context = node_to_item(node, struct vol_listener_context_s, effect_list_node);
-        if ((memcmp(&(context->desc->uuid), &(recv_contex->desc->uuid), sizeof(effect_uuid_t)) == 0)
-            && (context->session_id == recv_contex->session_id)
-            && (context->stream_type == recv_contex->stream_type)) {
+        if ((memcmp(&(context->desc->uuid), &uuid, sizeof(effect_uuid_t)) == 0)
+            && (context->session_id == session_id)
+            && (context->stream_type == stream_type)) {
             ALOGV("--- Found something to remove ---");
-            list_remove(&context->effect_list_node);
+            list_remove(node);
             PRINT_STREAM_TYPE(context->stream_type);
             if (context->dev_id && AUDIO_DEVICE_OUT_SPEAKER) {
                 recompute_flag = true;
@@ -694,6 +705,8 @@
 
     if (status != 0) {
         ALOGE("something wrong ... <<<--- Found NOTHING to remove ... ???? --->>>>>");
+        pthread_mutex_unlock(&vol_listner_init_lock);
+        return status;
     }
 
     // if there are no active streams, reset cal and volume level