diff --git a/src/profiling/SendCounterPacket.cpp b/src/profiling/SendCounterPacket.cpp
index dc5a950..b9f2b18 100644
--- a/src/profiling/SendCounterPacket.cpp
+++ b/src/profiling/SendCounterPacket.cpp
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@
     m_SendThread = std::thread(&SendCounterPacket::Send, this, std::ref(profilingConnection));
 }
 
-void SendCounterPacket::Stop()
+void SendCounterPacket::Stop(bool rethrowSendThreadExceptions)
 {
     // Signal the send thread to stop
     m_KeepRunning.store(false);
@@ -934,6 +934,30 @@
         // Wait for the send thread to complete operations
         m_SendThread.join();
     }
+
+    // Check if the send thread exception has to be rethrown
+    if (!rethrowSendThreadExceptions)
+    {
+        // No need to rethrow the send thread exception, return immediately
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // Exception handling lock scope - Begin
+    {
+        // Lock the mutex to handle any exception coming from the send thread
+        std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(m_WaitMutex);
+
+        // Check if there's an exception to rethrow
+        if (m_SendThreadException)
+        {
+            // Rethrow the send thread exception
+            std::rethrow_exception(m_SendThreadException);
+
+            // Nullify the exception as it has been rethrown
+            m_SendThreadException = nullptr;
+        }
+    }
+    // Exception handling lock scope - End
 }
 
 void SendCounterPacket::Send(IProfilingConnection& profilingConnection)
@@ -946,20 +970,67 @@
             // Lock the mutex to wait on it
             std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(m_WaitMutex);
 
-            if (m_Timeout < 0)
+            // Check the current state of the profiling service
+            ProfilingState currentState = m_StateMachine.GetCurrentState();
+            switch (currentState)
             {
-                // Wait indefinitely until notified that something to read has become available in the buffer
+            case ProfilingState::Uninitialised:
+            case ProfilingState::NotConnected:
+
+                // The send thread cannot be running when the profiling service is uninitialized or not connected,
+                // stop the thread immediately
+                m_KeepRunning.store(false);
+                m_IsRunning.store(false);
+
+                // An exception should be thrown here, save it to be rethrown later from the main thread so that
+                // it can be caught by the consumer
+                m_SendThreadException =
+                        std::make_exception_ptr(RuntimeException("The send thread should not be running with the "
+                                                                 "profiling service not yet initialized or connected"));
+
+                return;
+            case ProfilingState::WaitingForAck:
+
+                // Send out a StreamMetadata packet and wait for the profiling connection to be acknowledged.
+                // When a ConnectionAcknowledged packet is received, the profiling service state will be automatically
+                // updated by the command handler
+
+                // Prepare a StreamMetadata packet and write it to the Counter Stream buffer
+                SendStreamMetaDataPacket();
+
+                 // Flush the buffer manually to send the packet
+                FlushBuffer(profilingConnection);
+
+                // Wait indefinitely until notified otherwise (it could that the profiling state has changed due to the
+                // connection being acknowledged, or that new data is ready to be sent, or that the send thread is
+                // being shut down, etc.)
                 m_WaitCondition.wait(lock);
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                // Wait until the thread is notified of something to read from the buffer,
-                // or check anyway after the specified number of milliseconds
-                m_WaitCondition.wait_for(lock, std::chrono::milliseconds(m_Timeout));
+
+                // Do not flush the buffer again
+                continue;
+            case ProfilingState::Active:
+            default:
+                // Normal working state for the send thread
+
+                // Check if the send thread is required to enforce a timeout wait policy
+                if (m_Timeout < 0)
+                {
+                    // Wait indefinitely until notified that something to read has become available in the buffer
+                    m_WaitCondition.wait(lock);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // Wait until the thread is notified of something to read from the buffer,
+                    // or check anyway after the specified number of milliseconds
+                    m_WaitCondition.wait_for(lock, std::chrono::milliseconds(m_Timeout));
+                }
+
+                break;
             }
         }
         // Wait condition lock scope - End
 
+        // Send all the available packets in the buffer
         FlushBuffer(profilingConnection);
     }
 
@@ -1000,7 +1071,7 @@
         // Mark the packet buffer as read
         m_BufferManager.MarkRead(packetBuffer);
 
-        // Get next available readable buffer
+        // Get the next available readable buffer
         packetBuffer = m_BufferManager.GetReadableBuffer();
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/profiling/SendCounterPacket.hpp b/src/profiling/SendCounterPacket.hpp
index ed76937..9361efb 100644
--- a/src/profiling/SendCounterPacket.hpp
+++ b/src/profiling/SendCounterPacket.hpp
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "IBufferManager.hpp"
-#include "ISendCounterPacket.hpp"
 #include "ICounterDirectory.hpp"
+#include "ISendCounterPacket.hpp"
 #include "IProfilingConnection.hpp"
+#include "ProfilingStateMachine.hpp"
 #include "ProfilingUtils.hpp"
 
 #include <atomic>
@@ -26,20 +27,25 @@
 class SendCounterPacket : public ISendCounterPacket
 {
 public:
-    using CategoryRecord   = std::vector<uint32_t>;
-    using DeviceRecord     = std::vector<uint32_t>;
-    using CounterSetRecord = std::vector<uint32_t>;
-    using EventRecord      = std::vector<uint32_t>;
-
+    using CategoryRecord        = std::vector<uint32_t>;
+    using DeviceRecord          = std::vector<uint32_t>;
+    using CounterSetRecord      = std::vector<uint32_t>;
+    using EventRecord           = std::vector<uint32_t>;
     using IndexValuePairsVector = std::vector<std::pair<uint16_t, uint32_t>>;
 
-    SendCounterPacket(IBufferManager& buffer, int timeout = 1000)
-        : m_BufferManager(buffer)
+    SendCounterPacket(ProfilingStateMachine& profilingStateMachine, IBufferManager& buffer, int timeout = 1000)
+        : m_StateMachine(profilingStateMachine)
+        , m_BufferManager(buffer)
         , m_Timeout(timeout)
         , m_IsRunning(false)
         , m_KeepRunning(false)
+        , m_SendThreadException(nullptr)
     {}
-    ~SendCounterPacket() { Stop(); }
+    ~SendCounterPacket()
+    {
+        // Don't rethrow when destructing the object
+        Stop(false);
+    }
 
     void SendStreamMetaDataPacket() override;
 
@@ -56,7 +62,7 @@
     static const unsigned int MAX_METADATA_PACKET_LENGTH = 4096;
 
     void Start(IProfilingConnection& profilingConnection);
-    void Stop();
+    void Stop(bool rethrowSendThreadExceptions = true);
     bool IsRunning() { return m_IsRunning.load(); }
 
 private:
@@ -76,6 +82,7 @@
         {
             SetReadyToRead();
         }
+
         if (writerBuffer != nullptr)
         {
             // Cancel the operation
@@ -88,6 +95,7 @@
 
     void FlushBuffer(IProfilingConnection& profilingConnection);
 
+    ProfilingStateMachine& m_StateMachine;
     IBufferManager& m_BufferManager;
     int m_Timeout;
     std::mutex m_WaitMutex;
@@ -95,6 +103,7 @@
     std::thread m_SendThread;
     std::atomic<bool> m_IsRunning;
     std::atomic<bool> m_KeepRunning;
+    std::exception_ptr m_SendThreadException;
 
 protected:
     // Helper methods, protected for testing
diff --git a/src/profiling/test/ProfilingTests.cpp b/src/profiling/test/ProfilingTests.cpp
index 91568d1..24ab779 100644
--- a/src/profiling/test/ProfilingTests.cpp
+++ b/src/profiling/test/ProfilingTests.cpp
@@ -1767,6 +1767,8 @@
 {
     using boost::numeric_cast;
 
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     class TestCaptureThread : public IPeriodicCounterCapture
     {
         void Start() override {}
@@ -1779,7 +1781,7 @@
     Holder holder;
     TestCaptureThread captureThread;
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(512);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     uint32_t sizeOfUint32 = numeric_cast<uint32_t>(sizeof(uint32_t));
     uint32_t sizeOfUint16 = numeric_cast<uint32_t>(sizeof(uint16_t));
@@ -2135,12 +2137,14 @@
         std::unordered_map<uint16_t, uint32_t> m_Data;
     };
 
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     Holder data;
     std::vector<uint16_t> captureIds1 = { 0, 1 };
     std::vector<uint16_t> captureIds2;
 
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(512);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     std::vector<uint16_t> counterIds;
     CaptureReader captureReader;
@@ -2201,6 +2205,8 @@
 {
     using boost::numeric_cast;
 
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     const uint32_t packetId = 0x30000;
     const uint32_t version = 1;
 
@@ -2209,7 +2215,7 @@
     Packet packetA(packetId, 0, packetData);
 
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     CounterDirectory counterDirectory;
 
@@ -2234,6 +2240,8 @@
 {
     using boost::numeric_cast;
 
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     const uint32_t packetId = 0x30000;
     const uint32_t version = 1;
 
@@ -2242,7 +2250,7 @@
     Packet packetA(packetId, 0, packetData);
 
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     CounterDirectory counterDirectory;
     const Device* device = counterDirectory.RegisterDevice("deviceA", 1);
diff --git a/src/profiling/test/SendCounterPacketTests.cpp b/src/profiling/test/SendCounterPacketTests.cpp
index 16302bc..1216420 100644
--- a/src/profiling/test/SendCounterPacketTests.cpp
+++ b/src/profiling/test/SendCounterPacketTests.cpp
@@ -21,14 +21,71 @@
 
 using namespace armnn::profiling;
 
+namespace
+{
+
+void SetNotConnectedProfilingState(ProfilingStateMachine& profilingStateMachine)
+{
+    ProfilingState currentState = profilingStateMachine.GetCurrentState();
+    switch (currentState)
+    {
+    case ProfilingState::WaitingForAck:
+        profilingStateMachine.TransitionToState(ProfilingState::Active);
+    case ProfilingState::Uninitialised:
+    case ProfilingState::Active:
+        profilingStateMachine.TransitionToState(ProfilingState::NotConnected);
+    case ProfilingState::NotConnected:
+        return;
+    default:
+        BOOST_CHECK_MESSAGE(false, "Invalid profiling state");
+    }
+}
+
+void SetWaitingForAckProfilingState(ProfilingStateMachine& profilingStateMachine)
+{
+    ProfilingState currentState = profilingStateMachine.GetCurrentState();
+    switch (currentState)
+    {
+    case ProfilingState::Uninitialised:
+    case ProfilingState::Active:
+        profilingStateMachine.TransitionToState(ProfilingState::NotConnected);
+    case ProfilingState::NotConnected:
+        profilingStateMachine.TransitionToState(ProfilingState::WaitingForAck);
+    case ProfilingState::WaitingForAck:
+        return;
+    default:
+        BOOST_CHECK_MESSAGE(false, "Invalid profiling state");
+    }
+}
+
+void SetActiveProfilingState(ProfilingStateMachine& profilingStateMachine)
+{
+    ProfilingState currentState = profilingStateMachine.GetCurrentState();
+    switch (currentState)
+    {
+    case ProfilingState::Uninitialised:
+        profilingStateMachine.TransitionToState(ProfilingState::NotConnected);
+    case ProfilingState::NotConnected:
+        profilingStateMachine.TransitionToState(ProfilingState::WaitingForAck);
+    case ProfilingState::WaitingForAck:
+        profilingStateMachine.TransitionToState(ProfilingState::Active);
+    case ProfilingState::Active:
+        return;
+    default:
+        BOOST_CHECK_MESSAGE(false, "Invalid profiling state");
+    }
+}
+
+} // Anonymous namespace
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE(SendCounterPacketTests)
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(MockSendCounterPacketTest)
 {
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(512);
-    MockSendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    MockSendCounterPacket mockSendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
 
-    sendCounterPacket.SendStreamMetaDataPacket();
+    mockSendCounterPacket.SendStreamMetaDataPacket();
 
     auto packetBuffer = mockBuffer.GetReadableBuffer();
     const char* buffer = reinterpret_cast<const char*>(packetBuffer->GetReadableData());
@@ -38,7 +95,7 @@
     mockBuffer.MarkRead(packetBuffer);
 
     CounterDirectory counterDirectory;
-    sendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory);
+    mockSendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory);
 
     packetBuffer = mockBuffer.GetReadableBuffer();
     buffer = reinterpret_cast<const char*>(packetBuffer->GetReadableData());
@@ -50,7 +107,7 @@
     uint64_t timestamp = 0;
     std::vector<std::pair<uint16_t, uint32_t>> indexValuePairs;
 
-    sendCounterPacket.SendPeriodicCounterCapturePacket(timestamp, indexValuePairs);
+    mockSendCounterPacket.SendPeriodicCounterCapturePacket(timestamp, indexValuePairs);
 
     packetBuffer = mockBuffer.GetReadableBuffer();
     buffer = reinterpret_cast<const char*>(packetBuffer->GetReadableData());
@@ -61,7 +118,7 @@
 
     uint32_t capturePeriod = 0;
     std::vector<uint16_t> selectedCounterIds;
-    sendCounterPacket.SendPeriodicCounterSelectionPacket(capturePeriod, selectedCounterIds);
+    mockSendCounterPacket.SendPeriodicCounterSelectionPacket(capturePeriod, selectedCounterIds);
 
     packetBuffer = mockBuffer.GetReadableBuffer();
     buffer = reinterpret_cast<const char*>(packetBuffer->GetReadableData());
@@ -73,9 +130,11 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendPeriodicCounterSelectionPacketTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // Error no space left in buffer
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer1(10);
-    SendCounterPacket sendPacket1(mockBuffer1);
+    SendCounterPacket sendPacket1(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer1);
 
     uint32_t capturePeriod = 1000;
     std::vector<uint16_t> selectedCounterIds;
@@ -84,7 +143,7 @@
 
     // Packet without any counters
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer2(512);
-    SendCounterPacket sendPacket2(mockBuffer2);
+    SendCounterPacket sendPacket2(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer2);
 
     sendPacket2.SendPeriodicCounterSelectionPacket(capturePeriod, selectedCounterIds);
     auto readBuffer2 = mockBuffer2.GetReadableBuffer();
@@ -100,7 +159,7 @@
 
     // Full packet message
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer3(512);
-    SendCounterPacket sendPacket3(mockBuffer3);
+    SendCounterPacket sendPacket3(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer3);
 
     selectedCounterIds.reserve(5);
     selectedCounterIds.emplace_back(100);
@@ -134,9 +193,11 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendPeriodicCounterCapturePacketTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // Error no space left in buffer
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer1(10);
-    SendCounterPacket sendPacket1(mockBuffer1);
+    SendCounterPacket sendPacket1(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer1);
 
     auto captureTimestamp = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
     uint64_t time =  static_cast<uint64_t >(captureTimestamp.time_since_epoch().count());
@@ -147,7 +208,7 @@
 
     // Packet without any counters
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer2(512);
-    SendCounterPacket sendPacket2(mockBuffer2);
+    SendCounterPacket sendPacket2(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer2);
 
     sendPacket2.SendPeriodicCounterCapturePacket(time, indexValuePairs);
     auto readBuffer2 = mockBuffer2.GetReadableBuffer();
@@ -164,7 +225,7 @@
 
     // Full packet message
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer3(512);
-    SendCounterPacket sendPacket3(mockBuffer3);
+    SendCounterPacket sendPacket3(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer3);
 
     indexValuePairs.reserve(5);
     indexValuePairs.emplace_back(std::make_pair<uint16_t, uint32_t >(0, 100));
@@ -213,9 +274,11 @@
 
     uint32_t sizeUint32 = numeric_cast<uint32_t>(sizeof(uint32_t));
 
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // Error no space left in buffer
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer1(10);
-    SendCounterPacket sendPacket1(mockBuffer1);
+    SendCounterPacket sendPacket1(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer1);
     BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendPacket1.SendStreamMetaDataPacket(), armnn::profiling::BufferExhaustion);
 
     // Full metadata packet
@@ -234,7 +297,7 @@
     uint32_t packetEntries = 6;
 
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer2(512);
-    SendCounterPacket sendPacket2(mockBuffer2);
+    SendCounterPacket sendPacket2(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer2);
     sendPacket2.SendStreamMetaDataPacket();
     auto readBuffer2 = mockBuffer2.GetReadableBuffer();
 
@@ -328,8 +391,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateDeviceRecordTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a device for testing
     uint16_t deviceUid = 27;
@@ -360,8 +425,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateInvalidDeviceRecordTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a device for testing
     uint16_t deviceUid = 27;
@@ -381,8 +448,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateCounterSetRecordTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a counter set for testing
     uint16_t counterSetUid = 27;
@@ -413,8 +482,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateInvalidCounterSetRecordTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a counter set for testing
     uint16_t counterSetUid = 27;
@@ -434,8 +505,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateEventRecordTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a counter for testing
     uint16_t counterUid = 7256;
@@ -554,8 +627,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateEventRecordNoUnitsTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a counter for testing
     uint16_t counterUid = 44312;
@@ -657,8 +732,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateInvalidEventRecordTest1)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a counter for testing
     uint16_t counterUid = 7256;
@@ -695,8 +772,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateInvalidEventRecordTest2)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a counter for testing
     uint16_t counterUid = 7256;
@@ -733,8 +812,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateInvalidEventRecordTest3)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a counter for testing
     uint16_t counterUid = 7256;
@@ -771,8 +852,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateCategoryRecordTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a category for testing
     const std::string categoryName = "some_category";
@@ -972,8 +1055,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateInvalidCategoryRecordTest1)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a category for testing
     const std::string categoryName = "some invalid category";
@@ -995,8 +1080,10 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateInvalidCategoryRecordTest2)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacketTest sendCounterPacketTest(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
 
     // Create a category for testing
     const std::string categoryName = "some_category";
@@ -1035,6 +1122,8 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendCounterDirectoryPacketTest1)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // The counter directory used for testing
     CounterDirectory counterDirectory;
 
@@ -1054,13 +1143,15 @@
 
     // Buffer with not enough space
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(10);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
     BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory),
                       armnn::profiling::BufferExhaustion);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendCounterDirectoryPacketTest2)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // The counter directory used for testing
     CounterDirectory counterDirectory;
 
@@ -1146,7 +1237,7 @@
 
     // Buffer with enough space
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
     BOOST_CHECK_NO_THROW(sendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory));
 
     // Get the readable buffer
@@ -1535,6 +1626,8 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendCounterDirectoryPacketTest3)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // Using a mock counter directory that allows to register invalid objects
     MockCounterDirectory counterDirectory;
 
@@ -1547,12 +1640,14 @@
 
     // Buffer with enough space
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
     BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory), armnn::RuntimeException);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendCounterDirectoryPacketTest4)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // Using a mock counter directory that allows to register invalid objects
     MockCounterDirectory counterDirectory;
 
@@ -1565,12 +1660,14 @@
 
     // Buffer with enough space
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
     BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory), armnn::RuntimeException);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendCounterDirectoryPacketTest5)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // Using a mock counter directory that allows to register invalid objects
     MockCounterDirectory counterDirectory;
 
@@ -1583,12 +1680,14 @@
 
     // Buffer with enough space
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
     BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory), armnn::RuntimeException);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendCounterDirectoryPacketTest6)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // Using a mock counter directory that allows to register invalid objects
     MockCounterDirectory counterDirectory;
 
@@ -1617,12 +1716,14 @@
 
     // Buffer with enough space
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
     BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory), armnn::RuntimeException);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendCounterDirectoryPacketTest7)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
     // Using a mock counter directory that allows to register invalid objects
     MockCounterDirectory counterDirectory;
 
@@ -1666,15 +1767,18 @@
 
     // Buffer with enough space
     MockBufferManager mockBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockBuffer);
     BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendCounterPacket.SendCounterDirectoryPacket(counterDirectory), armnn::RuntimeException);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadTest0)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetActiveProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
     MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
     MockStreamCounterBuffer mockStreamCounterBuffer(0);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockStreamCounterBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockStreamCounterBuffer);
 
     // Try to start the send thread many times, it must only start once
 
@@ -1694,11 +1798,14 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadTest1)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetActiveProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
     unsigned int totalWrittenSize = 0;
 
     MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
     MockStreamCounterBuffer mockStreamCounterBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockStreamCounterBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockStreamCounterBuffer);
     sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
 
     // Interleaving writes and reads to/from the buffer with pauses to test that the send thread actually waits for
@@ -1802,11 +1909,14 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadTest2)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetActiveProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
     unsigned int totalWrittenSize = 0;
 
     MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
     MockStreamCounterBuffer mockStreamCounterBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockStreamCounterBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockStreamCounterBuffer);
     sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
 
     // Adding many spurious "ready to read" signals throughout the test to check that the send thread is
@@ -1922,11 +2032,14 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadTest3)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetActiveProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
     unsigned int totalWrittenSize = 0;
 
     MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
     MockStreamCounterBuffer mockStreamCounterBuffer(1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(mockStreamCounterBuffer);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, mockStreamCounterBuffer);
     sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
 
     // Not using pauses or "grace periods" to stress test the send thread
@@ -2025,9 +2138,12 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadBufferTest)
 {
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetActiveProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
     MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
     BufferManager bufferManager(1, 1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(bufferManager, -1);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, bufferManager, -1);
     sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
 
     // Interleaving writes and reads to/from the buffer with pauses to test that the send thread actually waits for
@@ -2152,9 +2268,12 @@
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadBufferTest1)
 {
-    MockWriteProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetActiveProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
+    MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
     BufferManager bufferManager(3, 1024);
-    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(bufferManager, -1);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, bufferManager, -1);
     sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
 
     // SendStreamMetaDataPacket
@@ -2203,8 +2322,7 @@
     BOOST_TEST(reservedBuffer.get());
 
     // Check that data was actually written to the profiling connection in any order
-    std::vector<uint32_t> writtenData = mockProfilingConnection.GetWrittenData();
-    std::vector<uint32_t> expectedOutput{streamMetadataPacketsize, 32, 28};
+    const std::vector<uint32_t>& writtenData = mockProfilingConnection.GetWrittenData();
     BOOST_TEST(writtenData.size() == 3);
     bool foundStreamMetaDataPacket =
         std::find(writtenData.begin(), writtenData.end(), streamMetadataPacketsize) != writtenData.end();
@@ -2215,4 +2333,113 @@
     BOOST_TEST(foundPeriodicCounterCapturePacket);
 }
 
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadSendStreamMetadataPacket1)
+{
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+
+    MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
+    BufferManager bufferManager(3, 1024);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, bufferManager);
+    sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
+
+    // The profiling state is set to "Uninitialized", so the send thread should throw an exception
+
+    // Wait a bit to make sure that the send thread is properly started
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+
+    BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendCounterPacket.Stop(), armnn::RuntimeException);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadSendStreamMetadataPacket2)
+{
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetNotConnectedProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
+    MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
+    BufferManager bufferManager(3, 1024);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, bufferManager);
+    sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
+
+    // The profiling state is set to "NotConnected", so the send thread should throw an exception
+
+    // Wait a bit to make sure that the send thread is properly started
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+
+    BOOST_CHECK_THROW(sendCounterPacket.Stop(), armnn::RuntimeException);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadSendStreamMetadataPacket3)
+{
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetWaitingForAckProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
+    // Calculate the size of a Stream Metadata packet
+    std::string processName = GetProcessName().substr(0, 60);
+    unsigned int processNameSize = processName.empty() ? 0 : boost::numeric_cast<unsigned int>(processName.size()) + 1;
+    unsigned int streamMetadataPacketsize = 118 + processNameSize;
+
+    MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
+    BufferManager bufferManager(3, 1024);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, bufferManager);
+    sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
+
+    // The profiling state is set to "WaitingForAck", so the send thread should send a Stream Metadata packet
+
+    // Wait for a bit to make sure that we get the packet
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+
+    BOOST_CHECK_NO_THROW(sendCounterPacket.Stop());
+
+    // Check that the buffer contains one Stream Metadata packet
+    const std::vector<uint32_t>& writtenData = mockProfilingConnection.GetWrittenData();
+    BOOST_TEST(writtenData.size() == 1);
+    BOOST_TEST(writtenData[0] == streamMetadataPacketsize);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SendThreadSendStreamMetadataPacket4)
+{
+    ProfilingStateMachine profilingStateMachine;
+    SetWaitingForAckProfilingState(profilingStateMachine);
+
+    // Calculate the size of a Stream Metadata packet
+    std::string processName = GetProcessName().substr(0, 60);
+    unsigned int processNameSize = processName.empty() ? 0 : boost::numeric_cast<unsigned int>(processName.size()) + 1;
+    unsigned int streamMetadataPacketsize = 118 + processNameSize;
+
+    MockProfilingConnection mockProfilingConnection;
+    BufferManager bufferManager(3, 1024);
+    SendCounterPacket sendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, bufferManager);
+    sendCounterPacket.Start(mockProfilingConnection);
+
+    // The profiling state is set to "WaitingForAck", so the send thread should send a Stream Metadata packet
+
+    // Wait for a bit to make sure that we get the packet
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+
+    // Check that the profiling state is still "WaitingForAck"
+    BOOST_TEST((profilingStateMachine.GetCurrentState() == ProfilingState::WaitingForAck));
+
+    // Check that the buffer contains one Stream Metadata packet
+    const std::vector<uint32_t>& writtenData = mockProfilingConnection.GetWrittenData();
+    BOOST_TEST(writtenData.size() == 1);
+    BOOST_TEST(writtenData[0] == streamMetadataPacketsize);
+
+    mockProfilingConnection.Clear();
+
+    // Try triggering a new buffer read
+    sendCounterPacket.SetReadyToRead();
+
+    // Wait for a bit to make sure that we get the packet
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+
+    // Check that the profiling state is still "WaitingForAck"
+    BOOST_TEST((profilingStateMachine.GetCurrentState() == ProfilingState::WaitingForAck));
+
+    // Check that the buffer contains one Stream Metadata packet
+    BOOST_TEST(writtenData.size() == 1);
+    BOOST_TEST(writtenData[0] == streamMetadataPacketsize);
+
+    BOOST_CHECK_NO_THROW(sendCounterPacket.Stop());
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()
diff --git a/src/profiling/test/SendCounterPacketTests.hpp b/src/profiling/test/SendCounterPacketTests.hpp
index 0323f62..cae02b06 100644
--- a/src/profiling/test/SendCounterPacketTests.hpp
+++ b/src/profiling/test/SendCounterPacketTests.hpp
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 
 namespace profiling
 {
-
 class MockProfilingConnection : public IProfilingConnection
 {
 public:
@@ -33,38 +32,20 @@
 
     bool WritePacket(const unsigned char* buffer, uint32_t length) override
     {
-        return buffer != nullptr && length > 0;
-    }
+        if (buffer == nullptr || length == 0)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
 
-    Packet ReadPacket(uint32_t timeout) override { return Packet(); }
-
-private:
-    bool m_IsOpen;
-};
-
-class MockWriteProfilingConnection : public IProfilingConnection
-{
-public:
-    MockWriteProfilingConnection()
-        : m_IsOpen(true)
-    {}
-
-    bool IsOpen() override { return m_IsOpen; }
-
-    void Close() override { m_IsOpen = false; }
-
-    bool WritePacket(const unsigned char* buffer, uint32_t length) override
-    {
         m_WrittenData.push_back(length);
-        return buffer != nullptr && length > 0;
+        return true;
     }
 
     Packet ReadPacket(uint32_t timeout) override { return Packet(); }
 
-    std::vector<uint32_t> GetWrittenData()
-    {
-        return m_WrittenData;
-    }
+    const std::vector<uint32_t>& GetWrittenData() const { return m_WrittenData; }
+
+    void Clear() { m_WrittenData.clear(); }
 
 private:
     bool m_IsOpen;
@@ -497,8 +478,8 @@
 class SendCounterPacketTest : public SendCounterPacket
 {
 public:
-    SendCounterPacketTest(IBufferManager& buffer)
-        : SendCounterPacket(buffer)
+    SendCounterPacketTest(ProfilingStateMachine& profilingStateMachine, IBufferManager& buffer)
+        : SendCounterPacket(profilingStateMachine, buffer)
     {}
 
     bool CreateDeviceRecordTest(const DevicePtr& device,