diff --git a/src/pipewire/context.c b/src/pipewire/context.c
index 03bf0f251..8be6c1d74 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/context.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/context.c
@@ -798,6 +798,7 @@ static int collect_nodes(struct pw_impl_node *driver)
 	spa_list_init(&queue);
 	spa_list_append(&queue, &driver->sort_link);
 	driver->visited = true;
+	driver->passive = true;
 
 	spa_list_consume(n, &queue, sort_link) {
 		spa_list_remove(&n->sort_link);
@@ -806,6 +807,8 @@ static int collect_nodes(struct pw_impl_node *driver)
 		spa_list_for_each(p, &n->input_ports, link) {
 			spa_list_for_each(l, &p->links, input_link) {
 				t = l->output->node;
+				if (!l->passive)
+					driver->passive = false;
 				if (l->prepared && !t->visited && t->active) {
 					t->visited = true;
 					spa_list_append(&queue, &t->sort_link);
@@ -815,6 +818,8 @@ static int collect_nodes(struct pw_impl_node *driver)
 		spa_list_for_each(p, &n->output_ports, link) {
 			spa_list_for_each(l, &p->links, output_link) {
 				t = l->input->node;
+				if (!l->passive)
+					driver->passive = false;
 				if (l->prepared && !t->visited && t->active) {
 					t->visited = true;
 					spa_list_append(&queue, &t->sort_link);
@@ -852,7 +857,7 @@ int pw_context_recalc_graph(struct pw_context *context, const char *reason)
 
 		/* from now on we are only interested in active master nodes.
 		 * We're going to see if there are active followers. */
-		if (!n->master || !n->active)
+		if (!n->master || !n->active || n->passive)
 			continue;
 
 		/* first active master node is fallback */
@@ -912,7 +917,7 @@ int pw_context_recalc_graph(struct pw_context *context, const char *reason)
 			if (s == n)
 				continue;
 			if (s->active)
-				running = true;
+				running = !n->passive;
 			if (s->quantum_size > 0) {
 				if (min_quantum == 0 || s->quantum_size < min_quantum)
 					min_quantum = s->quantum_size;
@@ -935,8 +940,8 @@ int pw_context_recalc_graph(struct pw_context *context, const char *reason)
 			n->rt.position->clock.duration = quantum;
 		}
 
-		pw_log_debug(NAME" %p: master %p running:%d quantum:%u '%s'", context, n,
-				running, quantum, n->name);
+		pw_log_debug(NAME" %p: master %p running:%d passive:%d quantum:%u '%s'", context, n,
+				running, n->passive, quantum, n->name);
 
 		spa_list_for_each(s, &n->follower_list, follower_link) {
 			if (s == n)
diff --git a/src/pipewire/impl-link.c b/src/pipewire/impl-link.c
index 99a9bb084..bc6317e11 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/impl-link.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/impl-link.c
@@ -995,6 +995,7 @@ struct pw_impl_link *pw_context_create_link(struct pw_context *context,
 	struct impl *impl;
 	struct pw_impl_link *this;
 	struct pw_impl_node *input_node, *output_node;
+	const char *str;
 	int res;
 
 	if (output == input)
@@ -1038,6 +1039,10 @@ struct pw_impl_link *pw_context_create_link(struct pw_context *context,
 	this->output = output;
 	this->input = input;
 
+	/* passive means that this link does not make the nodes active */
+	if ((str = pw_properties_get(properties, PW_KEY_LINK_PASSIVE)) != NULL)
+		this->passive = pw_properties_parse_bool(str);
+
 	spa_hook_list_init(&this->listener_list);
 
 	impl->format_filter = format_filter;
diff --git a/src/pipewire/private.h b/src/pipewire/private.h
index e2bf55365..386fe7399 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/private.h
+++ b/src/pipewire/private.h
@@ -548,6 +548,7 @@ struct pw_impl_node {
 					  *  is selected to drive the graph */
 	unsigned int visited:1;		/**< for sorting */
 	unsigned int want_driver:1;	/**< this node wants to be assigned to a driver */
+	unsigned int passive:1;		/**< driver graph only has passive links */
 
 	uint32_t port_user_data_size;	/**< extra size for port user data */
 
@@ -753,6 +754,7 @@ struct pw_impl_link {
 	unsigned int feedback:1;
 	unsigned int preparing:1;
 	unsigned int prepared:1;
+	unsigned int passive:1;
 };
 
 #define pw_resource_emit(o,m,v,...) spa_hook_list_call(&o->listener_list, struct pw_resource_events, m, v, ##__VA_ARGS__)