diff --git a/include/media/hardware/CryptoAPI.h b/include/media/hardware/CryptoAPI.h
index 810a443e8..44a004057 100644
--- a/include/media/hardware/CryptoAPI.h
+++ b/include/media/hardware/CryptoAPI.h
@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ struct CryptoPlugin {
     // At the java level these special errors will then trigger a
     // MediaCodec.CryptoException that gives clients access to both
     // the error code and the errorDetailMsg.
-    virtual status_t decrypt(
+    // Returns a non-negative result to indicate the number of bytes written
+    // to the dstPtr, or a negative result to indicate an error.
+    virtual ssize_t decrypt(
             bool secure,
             const uint8_t key[16],
             const uint8_t iv[16],