diff --git a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_common.c b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_common.c
index ac7c4acb..c5074852 100644
--- a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_common.c
+++ b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_common.c
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ mtl_handle mtl_dev_get(AVFormatContext* ctx, const struct StDevArgs* args, int*
   p.flags |= MTL_FLAG_RX_VIDEO_MIGRATE;
   p.flags |= MTL_FLAG_RX_SEPARATE_VIDEO_LCORE;
   p.flags |= MTL_FLAG_BIND_NUMA;
-  p.flags |= MTL_FLAG_DEV_AUTO_START_STOP;
   p.log_level = MTL_LOG_LEVEL_INFO;  // log level. ERROR, INFO, WARNING
 
   if (args->dma_dev) {
diff --git a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st20p_rx.c b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st20p_rx.c
index 7a990e7c..97bc293d 100644
--- a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st20p_rx.c
+++ b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st20p_rx.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ typedef struct MtlSt20pDemuxerContext {
   AVRational framerate;
   int fb_cnt;
   int timeout_sec;
+  int session_init_retry;
 
   mtl_handle dev_handle;
   st20p_rx_handle rx_handle;
@@ -168,6 +169,13 @@ static int mtl_st20p_read_header(AVFormatContext* ctx) {
     return AVERROR(EIO);
   }
 
+  ret = mtl_start(s->dev_handle);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    err(ctx, "%s, mtl start fail %d\n", __func__, ret);
+    mtl_st20p_read_close(ctx);
+    return AVERROR(EIO);
+  }
+
   info(ctx, "%s(%d), rx handle %p\n", __func__, s->idx, s->rx_handle);
   return 0;
 }
@@ -178,7 +186,20 @@ static int mtl_st20p_read_packet(AVFormatContext* ctx, AVPacket* pkt) {
   struct st_frame* frame;
 
   dbg("%s(%d), start\n", __func__, s->idx);
-  frame = st20p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+
+  if (0 == s->frame_counter) {
+    /*
+     * for unicast scenarios, retries may be necessary
+     * if the transmitter is not yet initialized.
+     */
+    for (int i = 1; i <= s->session_init_retry; i++) {
+      frame = st20p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+      if (frame) break;
+      info(ctx, "%s(%d) session initialization retry %d\n", __func__, s->idx, i);
+    }
+  } else
+    frame = st20p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+
   if (!frame) {
     info(ctx, "%s(%d), st20p_rx_get_frame timeout\n", __func__, s->idx);
     return AVERROR(EIO);
@@ -255,6 +276,14 @@ static const AVOption mtl_st20p_rx_options[] = {
      0,
      60 * 10,
      DEC},
+    {"init_retry",
+     "Number of retries to the initial read packet",
+     OFFSET(session_init_retry),
+     AV_OPT_TYPE_INT,
+     {.i64 = 5},
+     0,
+     60,
+     DEC},
     {"fb_cnt",
      "Frame buffer count",
      OFFSET(fb_cnt),
diff --git a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st20p_tx.c b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st20p_tx.c
index 826bbeb8..48c7b4ae 100644
--- a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st20p_tx.c
+++ b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st20p_tx.c
@@ -116,6 +116,13 @@ static int mtl_st20p_write_header(AVFormatContext* ctx) {
     return AVERROR(EIO);
   }
 
+  ret = mtl_start(s->dev_handle);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    err(ctx, "%s, mtl start fail %d\n", __func__, ret);
+    mtl_st20p_write_close(ctx);
+    return AVERROR(EIO);
+  }
+
   s->tx_handle = st20p_tx_create(s->dev_handle, &ops_tx);
   if (!s->tx_handle) {
     err(ctx, "%s, st20p_tx_create failed\n", __func__);
diff --git a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st22p_rx.c b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st22p_rx.c
index 51abf572..2ae49408 100644
--- a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st22p_rx.c
+++ b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st22p_rx.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ typedef struct MtlSt22pDemuxerContext {
   int fb_cnt;
   int codec_thread_cnt;
   int timeout_sec;
+  int session_init_retry;
 
   mtl_handle dev_handle;
   st22p_rx_handle rx_handle;
@@ -180,6 +181,13 @@ static int mtl_st22p_read_header(AVFormatContext* ctx) {
     return AVERROR(EIO);
   }
 
+  ret = mtl_start(s->dev_handle);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    err(ctx, "%s, mtl start fail %d\n", __func__, ret);
+    mtl_st22p_read_close(ctx);
+    return AVERROR(EIO);
+  }
+
   info(ctx, "%s(%d), rx handle %p\n", __func__, s->idx, s->rx_handle);
   return 0;
 }
@@ -287,6 +295,13 @@ static int mtl_st22_read_header(AVFormatContext* ctx) {
   st->codecpar->bit_rate =
       av_rescale_q(ctx->packet_size, (AVRational){8, 1}, st->time_base);
 
+  ret = mtl_start(s->dev_handle);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    err(ctx, "%s, mtl start fail %d\n", __func__, ret);
+    mtl_st22p_read_close(ctx);
+    return AVERROR(EIO);
+  }
+
   info(ctx, "%s(%d), rx handle %p, max packet_size %u\n", __func__, s->idx, s->rx_handle,
        ctx->packet_size);
   return 0;
@@ -298,7 +313,20 @@ static int mtl_st22p_read_packet(AVFormatContext* ctx, AVPacket* pkt) {
   struct st_frame* frame;
 
   dbg("%s(%d), start\n", __func__, s->idx);
-  frame = st22p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+
+  if (0 == s->frame_counter) {
+    /*
+     * for unicast scenarios, retries may be necessary
+     * if the transmitter is not yet initialized.
+     */
+    for (int i = 1; i <= s->session_init_retry; i++) {
+      frame = st22p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+      if (frame) break;
+      info(ctx, "%s(%d) session initialization retry %d\n", __func__, s->idx, i);
+    }
+  } else
+    frame = st22p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+
   if (!frame) {
     info(ctx, "%s(%d), st22p_rx_get_frame timeout\n", __func__, s->idx);
     return AVERROR(EIO);
@@ -409,6 +437,14 @@ static const AVOption mtl_st22p_rx_options[] = {
      0,
      60 * 10,
      DEC},
+    {"init_retry",
+     "Number of retries to the initial read packet",
+     OFFSET(session_init_retry),
+     AV_OPT_TYPE_INT,
+     {.i64 = 5},
+     0,
+     60,
+     DEC},
     {"fb_cnt",
      "Frame buffer count",
      OFFSET(fb_cnt),
diff --git a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st22p_tx.c b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st22p_tx.c
index c9c0c2a5..a1efb914 100644
--- a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st22p_tx.c
+++ b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st22p_tx.c
@@ -141,6 +141,13 @@ static int mtl_st22p_write_header(AVFormatContext* ctx) {
     return AVERROR(EIO);
   }
 
+  ret = mtl_start(s->dev_handle);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    err(ctx, "%s, mtl start fail %d\n", __func__, ret);
+    mtl_st22p_write_close(ctx);
+    return AVERROR(EIO);
+  }
+
   s->frame_size = st22p_tx_frame_size(s->tx_handle);
   info(ctx, "%s(%d), tx_handle %p\n", __func__, s->idx, s->tx_handle);
   return 0;
@@ -211,6 +218,13 @@ static int mtl_st22_write_header(AVFormatContext* ctx) {
     return AVERROR(EIO);
   }
 
+  ret = mtl_start(s->dev_handle);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    err(ctx, "%s, mtl start fail %d\n", __func__, ret);
+    mtl_st22p_write_close(ctx);
+    return AVERROR(EIO);
+  }
+
   s->tx_handle = st22p_tx_create(s->dev_handle, &ops_tx);
   if (!s->tx_handle) {
     err(ctx, "%s, st22p_tx_create failed\n", __func__);
diff --git a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st30p_rx.c b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st30p_rx.c
index c3a6cc47..bdce0eb0 100644
--- a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st30p_rx.c
+++ b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st30p_rx.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ typedef struct MtlSt30pDemuxerContext {
   /* arguments for session */
   int fb_cnt;
   int timeout_sec;
+  int session_init_retry;
   int sample_rate;
   int channels;
   enum st30_fmt fmt;
@@ -180,6 +181,13 @@ static int mtl_st30p_read_header(AVFormatContext* ctx) {
     return AVERROR(EIO);
   }
 
+  ret = mtl_start(s->dev_handle);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    err(ctx, "%s, mtl start fail %d\n", __func__, ret);
+    mtl_st30p_read_close(ctx);
+    return AVERROR(EIO);
+  }
+
   info(ctx, "%s(%d), rx handle %p\n", __func__, s->idx, s->rx_handle);
   return 0;
 }
@@ -190,7 +198,20 @@ static int mtl_st30p_read_packet(AVFormatContext* ctx, AVPacket* pkt) {
   struct st30_frame* frame;
 
   dbg("%s(%d), start\n", __func__, s->idx);
-  frame = st30p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+
+  if (0 == s->frame_counter) {
+    /*
+     * for unicast scenarios, retries may be necessary
+     * if the transmitter is not yet initialized.
+     */
+    for (int i = 1; i <= s->session_init_retry; i++) {
+      frame = st30p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+      if (frame) break;
+      info(ctx, "%s(%d) session initialization retry %d\n", __func__, s->idx, i);
+    }
+  } else
+    frame = st30p_rx_get_frame(s->rx_handle);
+
   if (!frame) {
     info(ctx, "%s(%d), st30p_rx_get_frame timeout\n", __func__, s->idx);
     return AVERROR(EIO);
@@ -242,6 +263,14 @@ static const AVOption mtl_st30p_rx_options[] = {
      0,
      60 * 10,
      DEC},
+    {"init_retry",
+     "Number of retries to the initial read packet",
+     OFFSET(session_init_retry),
+     AV_OPT_TYPE_INT,
+     {.i64 = 5},
+     0,
+     60,
+     DEC},
     {"ar",
      "audio sampling rate",
      OFFSET(sample_rate),
diff --git a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st30p_tx.c b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st30p_tx.c
index ce849b55..97f10ea8 100644
--- a/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st30p_tx.c
+++ b/ecosystem/ffmpeg_plugin/mtl_st30p_tx.c
@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ static int mtl_st30p_write_header(AVFormatContext* ctx) {
     return AVERROR(EIO);
   }
 
+  ret = mtl_start(s->dev_handle);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    err(ctx, "%s, mtl start fail %d\n", __func__, ret);
+    mtl_st30p_write_close(ctx);
+    return AVERROR(EIO);
+  }
+
   s->tx_handle = st30p_tx_create(s->dev_handle, &ops_tx);
   if (!s->tx_handle) {
     err(ctx, "%s, st30p_tx_create failed\n", __func__);