diff --git a/include/ui/GraphicBuffer.h b/include/ui/GraphicBuffer.h
index 370253a9c..b9deafcd3 100644
--- a/include/ui/GraphicBuffer.h
+++ b/include/ui/GraphicBuffer.h
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ public:
         USAGE_HW_TEXTURE        = GRALLOC_USAGE_HW_TEXTURE,
         USAGE_HW_RENDER         = GRALLOC_USAGE_HW_RENDER,
         USAGE_HW_2D             = GRALLOC_USAGE_HW_2D,
+        USAGE_HW_COMPOSER       = GRALLOC_USAGE_HW_COMPOSER,
         USAGE_HW_MASK           = GRALLOC_USAGE_HW_MASK
     };
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
index 19c7ddd4f..853975a17 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
@@ -559,6 +559,7 @@ uint32_t Layer::getEffectiveUsage(uint32_t usage) const
         // need a hardware-protected path to external video sink
         usage |= GraphicBuffer::USAGE_PROTECTED;
     }
+    usage |= GraphicBuffer::USAGE_HW_COMPOSER;
     return usage;
 }