diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.cpp
index fb93c477d..302ce8255 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.cpp
@@ -540,8 +540,13 @@ status_t HWComposer::prepare() {
             // DO NOT reset the handle field to NULL, because it's possible
             // that we have nothing to redraw (eg: eglSwapBuffers() not called)
             // in which case, we should continue to use the same buffer.
+            LOG_FATAL_IF(disp.list == NULL);
             disp.framebufferTarget->compositionType = HWC_FRAMEBUFFER_TARGET;
         }
+        if (!disp.connected && disp.list != NULL) {
+            ALOGW("WARNING: disp %d: connected, non-null list, layers=%d",
+                  i, disp.list->numHwLayers);
+        }
         mLists[i] = disp.list;
         if (mLists[i]) {
             if (hwcHasApiVersion(mHwc, HWC_DEVICE_API_VERSION_1_2)) {
@@ -664,6 +669,17 @@ status_t HWComposer::acquire(int disp) const {
     return NO_ERROR;
 }
 
+void HWComposer::disconnectDisplay(int disp) {
+    LOG_ALWAYS_FATAL_IF(disp < 0 || disp == HWC_DISPLAY_PRIMARY ||
+                        disp >= HWC_NUM_DISPLAY_TYPES);
+    DisplayData& dd(mDisplayData[disp]);
+    if (dd.list != NULL) {
+        free(dd.list);
+        dd.list = NULL;
+        dd.framebufferTarget = NULL;    // points into dd.list
+    }
+}
+
 int HWComposer::getVisualID() const {
     if (mHwc && hwcHasApiVersion(mHwc, HWC_DEVICE_API_VERSION_1_1)) {
         // FIXME: temporary hack until HAL_PIXEL_FORMAT_IMPLEMENTATION_DEFINED
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.h b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.h
index 633ca9c13..af33999dc 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.h
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ public:
     // acquire hardware resources and unblank screen
     status_t acquire(int disp) const;
 
+    // reset state when an external, non-virtual display is disconnected
+    void disconnectDisplay(int disp);
+
     // create a work list for numLayers layer. sets HWC_GEOMETRY_CHANGED.
     status_t createWorkList(int32_t id, size_t numLayers);
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
index a8d20bb1b..ebec4cb82 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
@@ -1123,7 +1123,13 @@ void SurfaceFlinger::handleTransactionLocked(uint32_t transactionFlags)
                 if (j < 0) {
                     // in drawing state but not in current state
                     if (!draw[i].isMainDisplay()) {
+                        // Call makeCurrent() on the primary display so we can
+                        // be sure that nothing associated with this display
+                        // is current.
+                        const sp<const DisplayDevice>& hw(getDefaultDisplayDevice());
+                        DisplayDevice::makeCurrent(mEGLDisplay, hw, mEGLContext);
                         mDisplays.removeItem(draw.keyAt(i));
+                        getHwComposer().disconnectDisplay(draw[i].type);
                     } else {
                         ALOGW("trying to remove the main display");
                     }