diff --git a/configs/kona/kona.mk b/configs/kona/kona.mk
index b06b395..b8f3bde 100644
--- a/configs/kona/kona.mk
+++ b/configs/kona/kona.mk
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 DOLBY_ENABLE := false
 endif
 
-USE_XML_AUDIO_POLICY_CONF := 1
 AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM := true
 BOARD_SUPPORTS_SOUND_TRIGGER := true
 BOARD_SUPPORTS_GCS := false
@@ -245,6 +244,8 @@
 persist.audio.fluence.voicecomm=true
 endif
 
+USE_XML_AUDIO_POLICY_CONF := 1
+
 # for HIDL related packages
 PRODUCT_PACKAGES += \
     android.hardware.audio@2.0-service \
diff --git a/hal/Android.mk b/hal/Android.mk
index e51df5e..b52f943 100644
--- a/hal/Android.mk
+++ b/hal/Android.mk
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@
 ifeq ($(strip $(AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM)),true)
   LOCAL_HEADER_LIBRARIES += audio_kernel_headers
   LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += $(TARGET_OUT_INTERMEDIATES)/vendor/qcom/opensource/audio-kernel/include
-  LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_DEPENDENCIES += $(BOARD_VENDOR_KERNEL_MODULES)
 endif
 
 LOCAL_CFLAGS += -DUSE_VENDOR_EXTN
diff --git a/hal/audio_extn/audio_extn.h b/hal/audio_extn/audio_extn.h
index 0c6bee5..158370a 100644
--- a/hal/audio_extn/audio_extn.h
+++ b/hal/audio_extn/audio_extn.h
@@ -432,6 +432,8 @@
 #define audio_extn_sound_trigger_check_and_get_session(in)             (0)
 #define audio_extn_sound_trigger_stop_lab(in)                          (0)
 #define audio_extn_sound_trigger_read(in, buffer, bytes)               (0)
+#define audio_extn_sound_trigger_check_ec_ref_enable()                 (0)
+#define audio_extn_sound_trigger_update_ec_ref_status(on)              (0)
 #else
 
 enum st_event_type {
@@ -457,6 +459,8 @@
                                   size_t bytes);
 void audio_extn_sound_trigger_get_parameters(const struct audio_device *adev,
                      struct str_parms *query, struct str_parms *reply);
+bool audio_extn_sound_trigger_check_ec_ref_enable();
+void audio_extn_sound_trigger_update_ec_ref_status(bool on);
 #endif
 
 #ifndef AUXPCM_BT_ENABLED
diff --git a/hal/audio_extn/soundtrigger.c b/hal/audio_extn/soundtrigger.c
index e01b23b..e0b7193 100644
--- a/hal/audio_extn/soundtrigger.c
+++ b/hal/audio_extn/soundtrigger.c
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@
 
 /* Proprietary interface version used for compatibility with STHAL */
 #define STHAL_PROP_API_VERSION_1_0 MAKE_HAL_VERSION(1, 0)
-#define STHAL_PROP_API_CURRENT_VERSION STHAL_PROP_API_VERSION_1_0
+#define STHAL_PROP_API_VERSION_1_1 MAKE_HAL_VERSION(1, 1)
+#define STHAL_PROP_API_CURRENT_VERSION STHAL_PROP_API_VERSION_1_1
 
 #define ST_EVENT_CONFIG_MAX_STR_VALUE 32
 #define ST_DEVICE_HANDSET_MIC 1
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@
     ST_EVENT_SESSION_DEREGISTER,
     ST_EVENT_START_KEEP_ALIVE,
     ST_EVENT_STOP_KEEP_ALIVE,
+    ST_EVENT_UPDATE_ECHO_REF
 } sound_trigger_event_type_t;
 
 typedef enum {
@@ -82,7 +84,8 @@
     AUDIO_EVENT_CAPTURE_STREAM_INACTIVE,
     AUDIO_EVENT_CAPTURE_STREAM_ACTIVE,
     AUDIO_EVENT_BATTERY_STATUS_CHANGED,
-    AUDIO_EVENT_GET_PARAM
+    AUDIO_EVENT_GET_PARAM,
+    AUDIO_EVENT_UPDATE_ECHO_REF
 } audio_event_type_t;
 
 typedef enum {
@@ -120,6 +123,7 @@
 
 struct sound_trigger_event_info {
     struct sound_trigger_session_info st_ses;
+    bool st_ec_ref_enabled;
 };
 typedef struct sound_trigger_event_info sound_trigger_event_info_t;
 
@@ -141,6 +145,7 @@
         struct audio_read_samples_info aud_info;
         char str_value[ST_EVENT_CONFIG_MAX_STR_VALUE];
         struct audio_hal_usecase usecase;
+        bool audio_ec_ref_enabled;
         struct sound_trigger_get_param_data st_get_param_data;
     } u;
     struct sound_trigger_device_info device_info;
@@ -200,6 +205,7 @@
     struct listnode st_ses_list;
     pthread_mutex_t lock;
     unsigned int sthal_prop_api_version;
+    bool st_ec_ref_enabled;
 };
 
 static struct sound_trigger_audio_device *st_dev;
@@ -335,6 +341,15 @@
         pthread_mutex_unlock(&st_dev->adev->lock);
         goto done;
 
+    case ST_EVENT_UPDATE_ECHO_REF:
+        if (!config) {
+            ALOGE("%s: NULL config", __func__);
+            status = -EINVAL;
+            break;
+        }
+        st_dev->st_ec_ref_enabled = config->st_ec_ref_enabled;
+        break;
+
     default:
         ALOGW("%s: Unknown event %d", __func__, event);
         break;
@@ -443,6 +458,42 @@
     return false;
 }
 
+bool audio_extn_sound_trigger_check_ec_ref_enable()
+{
+    bool ret = false;
+
+    if (!st_dev) {
+        ALOGE("%s: st_dev NULL", __func__);
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&st_dev->lock);
+    if (st_dev->st_ec_ref_enabled) {
+        ret = true;
+        ALOGD("%s: EC Reference is enabled", __func__);
+    } else {
+        ALOGD("%s: EC Reference is disabled", __func__);
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&st_dev->lock);
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
+void audio_extn_sound_trigger_update_ec_ref_status(bool on)
+{
+    struct audio_event_info ev_info;
+
+    if (!st_dev) {
+        ALOGE("%s: st_dev NULL", __func__);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    ev_info.u.audio_ec_ref_enabled = on;
+    st_dev->st_callback(AUDIO_EVENT_UPDATE_ECHO_REF, &ev_info);
+    ALOGD("%s: update audio echo ref status %s",__func__,
+                ev_info.u.audio_ec_ref_enabled == true ? "true" : "false");
+}
+
 void audio_extn_sound_trigger_update_device_status(snd_device_t snd_device,
                                      st_event_type_t event)
 {
@@ -753,6 +804,7 @@
     }
 
     st_dev->adev = adev;
+    st_dev->st_ec_ref_enabled = false;
     list_init(&st_dev->st_ses_list);
     audio_extn_snd_mon_register_listener(st_dev, stdev_snd_mon_cb);
 
diff --git a/hal/audio_hw.c b/hal/audio_hw.c
index 17f838c..0f03de1 100644
--- a/hal/audio_hw.c
+++ b/hal/audio_hw.c
@@ -7971,14 +7971,20 @@
 
     ALOGD("%s: enter:stream_handle(%p)",__func__, in);
 
-    // must deregister from sndmonitor first to prevent races
-    // between the callback and close_stream
+    /* must deregister from sndmonitor first to prevent races
+     * between the callback and close_stream
+     */
     audio_extn_snd_mon_unregister_listener(stream);
 
-    // Disable echo reference if there are no active input and hfp call
-    // while closing input stream
-    if (!adev->active_input && !audio_extn_hfp_is_active(adev))
+    /* Disable echo reference if there are no active input, hfp call
+     * and sound trigger while closing input stream
+     */
+    if (!adev->active_input &&
+        !audio_extn_hfp_is_active(adev) &&
+        !audio_extn_sound_trigger_check_ec_ref_enable())
         platform_set_echo_reference(adev, false, AUDIO_DEVICE_NONE);
+    else
+        audio_extn_sound_trigger_update_ec_ref_status(false);
 
     error_log_destroy(in->error_log);
     in->error_log = NULL;
diff --git a/hal/msm8974/platform.c b/hal/msm8974/platform.c
index 9eb1dc2..613d7ba 100644
--- a/hal/msm8974/platform.c
+++ b/hal/msm8974/platform.c
@@ -1473,11 +1473,13 @@
 }
 
 void platform_set_echo_reference(struct audio_device *adev, bool enable,
-                                 audio_devices_t out_device __unused)
+                                 audio_devices_t out_device)
 {
     struct platform_data *my_data = (struct platform_data *)adev->platform;
     char ec_ref_mixer_path[MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH] = "echo-reference";
 
+    audio_extn_sound_trigger_update_ec_ref_status(enable);
+
     if (strcmp(my_data->ec_ref_mixer_path, "")) {
         ALOGV("%s: disabling %s", __func__, my_data->ec_ref_mixer_path);
         audio_route_reset_and_update_path(adev->audio_route,
@@ -1489,9 +1491,11 @@
             if (adev->mode == AUDIO_MODE_IN_COMMUNICATION)
                 strlcat(ec_ref_mixer_path, "-voip", MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH);    
         }        
+        strlcpy(my_data->ec_ref_mixer_path, ec_ref_mixer_path,
+                    MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH);
         /*
          * If native audio device reference count > 0, then apply codec EC otherwise
-         * fallback to Speakers with VBat if enabled or default
+         * apply EC based on output device.
          */
         if (adev->snd_dev_ref_cnt[SND_DEVICE_OUT_HEADPHONES_44_1] > 0)
             strlcat(ec_ref_mixer_path, " headphones-44.1",
@@ -1502,12 +1506,24 @@
         else if (adev->snd_dev_ref_cnt[SND_DEVICE_OUT_DISPLAY_PORT] > 0)
             strlcat(ec_ref_mixer_path, " display-port",
                     MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH);
+        else if (out_device & AUDIO_DEVICE_OUT_EARPIECE)
+            strlcat(ec_ref_mixer_path, " handset",
+                    MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH);
+        else if (out_device & AUDIO_DEVICE_OUT_WIRED_HEADPHONE)
+            strlcat(ec_ref_mixer_path, " headphones",
+                    MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH);
+        else if (out_device & AUDIO_DEVICE_OUT_USB_HEADSET)
+            strlcat(ec_ref_mixer_path, " usb-headphones",
+                    MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH);
 
-        strlcpy(my_data->ec_ref_mixer_path, ec_ref_mixer_path,
-                MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH);
+        if (audio_route_apply_and_update_path(adev->audio_route,
+                                              ec_ref_mixer_path) == 0)
+            strlcpy(my_data->ec_ref_mixer_path, ec_ref_mixer_path,
+                    MIXER_PATH_MAX_LENGTH);
+        else
+            audio_route_apply_and_update_path(adev->audio_route, my_data->ec_ref_mixer_path);
 
         ALOGD("%s: enabling %s", __func__, my_data->ec_ref_mixer_path);
-        audio_route_apply_and_update_path(adev->audio_route, my_data->ec_ref_mixer_path);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/mm-audio/aenc-aac/qdsp6/Android.mk b/mm-audio/aenc-aac/qdsp6/Android.mk
index cbc832d..5aa1f40 100644
--- a/mm-audio/aenc-aac/qdsp6/Android.mk
+++ b/mm-audio/aenc-aac/qdsp6/Android.mk
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@
 ifeq ($(strip $(AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM)),true)
   LOCAL_HEADER_LIBRARIES := audio_kernel_headers
   LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += $(TARGET_OUT_INTERMEDIATES)/vendor/qcom/opensource/audio-kernel/include
-  LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_DEPENDENCIES += $(BOARD_VENDOR_KERNEL_MODULES)
 endif
 
 include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
diff --git a/mm-audio/aenc-amrnb/qdsp6/Android.mk b/mm-audio/aenc-amrnb/qdsp6/Android.mk
index 4a05742..7e0007f 100644
--- a/mm-audio/aenc-amrnb/qdsp6/Android.mk
+++ b/mm-audio/aenc-amrnb/qdsp6/Android.mk
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
 ifeq ($(strip $(AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM)),true)
   LOCAL_HEADER_LIBRARIES := audio_kernel_headers
   LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += $(TARGET_OUT_INTERMEDIATES)/vendor/qcom/opensource/audio-kernel/include
-  LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_DEPENDENCIES += $(BOARD_VENDOR_KERNEL_MODULES)
 endif
 
 include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
diff --git a/mm-audio/aenc-evrc/qdsp6/Android.mk b/mm-audio/aenc-evrc/qdsp6/Android.mk
index 76ed6be..346ef81 100644
--- a/mm-audio/aenc-evrc/qdsp6/Android.mk
+++ b/mm-audio/aenc-evrc/qdsp6/Android.mk
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
 ifeq ($(strip $(AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM)),true)
   LOCAL_HEADER_LIBRARIES := audio_kernel_headers
   LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += $(TARGET_OUT_INTERMEDIATES)/vendor/qcom/opensource/audio-kernel/include
-  LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_DEPENDENCIES += $(BOARD_VENDOR_KERNEL_MODULES)
 endif
 
 include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
diff --git a/mm-audio/aenc-g711/qdsp6/Android.mk b/mm-audio/aenc-g711/qdsp6/Android.mk
index d71f121..8e4d9e7 100644
--- a/mm-audio/aenc-g711/qdsp6/Android.mk
+++ b/mm-audio/aenc-g711/qdsp6/Android.mk
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@
 ifeq ($(strip $(AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM)),true)
   LOCAL_HEADER_LIBRARIES := audio_kernel_headers
   LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += $(TARGET_OUT_INTERMEDIATES)/vendor/qcom/opensource/audio-kernel/include
-  LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_DEPENDENCIES += $(BOARD_VENDOR_KERNEL_MODULES)
 endif
 
 
diff --git a/mm-audio/aenc-qcelp13/qdsp6/Android.mk b/mm-audio/aenc-qcelp13/qdsp6/Android.mk
index 1178b2f..739ee82 100644
--- a/mm-audio/aenc-qcelp13/qdsp6/Android.mk
+++ b/mm-audio/aenc-qcelp13/qdsp6/Android.mk
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
 ifeq ($(strip $(AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM)),true)
   LOCAL_HEADER_LIBRARIES := audio_kernel_headers
   LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += $(TARGET_OUT_INTERMEDIATES)/vendor/qcom/opensource/audio-kernel/include
-  LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_DEPENDENCIES += $(BOARD_VENDOR_KERNEL_MODULES)
 endif
 
 
diff --git a/post_proc/Android.mk b/post_proc/Android.mk
index c68a861..bffcd38 100644
--- a/post_proc/Android.mk
+++ b/post_proc/Android.mk
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@
 ifeq ($(strip $(AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM)),true)
   LOCAL_HEADER_LIBRARIES += audio_kernel_headers
   LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += $(TARGET_OUT_INTERMEDIATES)/vendor/qcom/opensource/audio-kernel/include
-  LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_DEPENDENCIES += $(BOARD_VENDOR_KERNEL_MODULES)
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(TARGET_COMPILE_WITH_MSM_KERNEL),true)
@@ -199,7 +198,6 @@
 ifeq ($(strip $(AUDIO_FEATURE_ENABLED_DLKM)),true)
   LOCAL_HEADER_LIBRARIES += audio_kernel_headers
   LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += $(TARGET_OUT_INTERMEDIATES)/vendor/qcom/opensource/audio-kernel/include
-  LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_DEPENDENCIES += $(BOARD_VENDOR_KERNEL_MODULES)
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(TARGET_COMPILE_WITH_MSM_KERNEL),true)