Worked on the thesofproject/sof repository to enhance the reliability of audio processing initialization by addressing a critical bug in the MaxxEffect startup sequence. Introduced an initialization guard and an initialized flag within the MaxxEffect_Message logic, ensuring that messages are not processed before MaxxEffect_Initialize completes. This approach reduced the risk of runtime errors and undefined behavior during module startup, leading to more stable audio driver performance. The work involved C programming and leveraged expertise in embedded systems and driver development, focusing on robust sequencing and maintainability. These changes improved the safety and reliability of the audio processing path for end users.