diff --git a/Pal.cpp b/Pal.cpp
index 46b3b86..e0fc84f 100644
--- a/Pal.cpp
+++ b/Pal.cpp
@@ -892,13 +892,19 @@
     }
 
     rm->lockActiveStream();
-    if (rm->isActiveStream(stream_handle)) {
-        s =  reinterpret_cast<Stream *>(stream_handle);
-        status = s->getTimestamp(stime);
-    } else {
-        PAL_ERR(LOG_TAG, "stream handle in stale state.\n");
+    s =  reinterpret_cast<Stream *>(stream_handle);
+    status = rm->increaseStreamUserCounter(s);
+    if (0 != status) {
+        rm->unlockActiveStream();
+        PAL_ERR(LOG_TAG, "failed to increase stream user count");
+        return status;
     }
     rm->unlockActiveStream();
+    status = s->getTimestamp(stime);
+
+    rm->lockActiveStream();
+    rm->decreaseStreamUserCounter(s);
+    rm->unlockActiveStream();
 
     if (0 != status) {
         PAL_ERR(LOG_TAG, "pal_get_timestamp failed with status %d\n", status);