diff --git a/src/pipewire/link.c b/src/pipewire/link.c
index 2aaeb9f91..6a0ce31a9 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/link.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/link.c
@@ -1255,6 +1255,26 @@ static void try_link_controls(struct impl *impl, struct pw_port *port, struct pw
 	}
 }
 
+static void try_unlink_controls(struct impl *impl, struct pw_port *port, struct pw_port *target)
+{
+	struct pw_control *cin, *cout;
+	int res;
+
+	pw_log_debug("link %p: unlinking controls", impl);
+	spa_list_for_each(cout, &port->control_list[SPA_DIRECTION_OUTPUT], port_link) {
+		spa_list_for_each(cin, &target->control_list[SPA_DIRECTION_INPUT], port_link) {
+			if ((res = pw_control_unlink(cout, cin)) < 0)
+				pw_log_error("failed to unlink controls: %s", spa_strerror(res));
+		}
+	}
+	spa_list_for_each(cin, &port->control_list[SPA_DIRECTION_INPUT], port_link) {
+		spa_list_for_each(cout, &target->control_list[SPA_DIRECTION_OUTPUT], port_link) {
+			if ((res = pw_control_unlink(cout, cin)) < 0)
+				pw_log_error("failed to unlink controls: %s", spa_strerror(res));
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 struct pw_link *pw_link_new(struct pw_core *core,
 			    struct pw_port *output,
 			    struct pw_port *input,
@@ -1437,6 +1457,8 @@ void pw_link_destroy(struct pw_link *link)
 	if (link->registered)
 		spa_list_remove(&link->link);
 
+	try_unlink_controls(impl, link->input, link->output);
+
 	input_remove(link, link->input);
 	output_remove(link, link->output);