diff --git a/src/pipewire/impl-link.c b/src/pipewire/impl-link.c
index b476bccfb..11a79d87b 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/impl-link.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/impl-link.c
@@ -1152,6 +1152,7 @@ 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)
@@ -1201,7 +1202,10 @@ struct pw_impl_link *pw_context_create_link(struct pw_context *context,
 	this->input = input;
 
 	/* passive means that this link does not make the nodes active */
-	this->passive = pw_properties_get_bool(properties, PW_KEY_LINK_PASSIVE, false);
+	str = pw_properties_get(properties, PW_KEY_LINK_PASSIVE);
+	this->passive = str ? spa_atob(str) : output_node->passive | input_node->passive;
+	if (this->passive && str == NULL)
+		 pw_properties_set(properties, PW_KEY_LINK_PASSIVE, "true");
 
 	spa_hook_list_init(&this->listener_list);
 
diff --git a/src/pipewire/impl-node.c b/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
index 2f8aa3b09..9301d250a 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
@@ -947,6 +947,7 @@ static void check_properties(struct pw_impl_node *node)
 		recalc_reason = "link group changed";
 	}
 
+	node->passive = pw_properties_get_bool(node->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_PASSIVE, false);
 	node->want_driver = pw_properties_get_bool(node->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_WANT_DRIVER, false);
 	node->always_process = pw_properties_get_bool(node->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_ALWAYS_PROCESS, false);
 
diff --git a/src/pipewire/private.h b/src/pipewire/private.h
index 8fcae46da..a7b84f0a6 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/private.h
+++ b/src/pipewire/private.h
@@ -686,6 +686,7 @@ 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;		/**< node links should be passive */
 	unsigned int runnable:1;	/**< node is runnable */
 	unsigned int freewheel:1;	/**< if this is the freewheel driver */
 	unsigned int loopchecked:1;	/**< for feedback loop checking */