diff --git a/liboverlay/overlayMem.h b/liboverlay/overlayMem.h
index f8109d1..caf0437 100644
--- a/liboverlay/overlayMem.h
+++ b/liboverlay/overlayMem.h
@@ -139,11 +139,21 @@ inline bool OvMem::open(uint32_t numbufs,
     data.uncached = true;
 
     err = mAlloc->allocate(data, allocFlags, 0);
-    if (err != 0) {
-        ALOGE("OvMem: error allocating memory");
+    //see if we can fallback to other heap
+    //we can try MM_HEAP once if it's not secure playback
+    if (err != 0 && !isSecure) {
+        allocFlags |= GRALLOC_USAGE_PRIVATE_MM_HEAP;
+        err = mAlloc->allocate(data, allocFlags, 0);
+        if (err != 0) {
+            ALOGE(" could not allocate from fallback heap");
+            return false;
+        }
+    } else if (err != 0) {
+        ALOGE("OvMem: error allocating memory can not fall back");
         return false;
     }
 
+
     mFd = data.fd;
     mBaseAddr = data.base;
     mAllocType = data.allocType;