diff --git a/src/pipewire/stream.c b/src/pipewire/stream.c
index 25df78a96..1eed773da 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/stream.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/stream.c
@@ -2594,7 +2594,7 @@ int pw_stream_trigger_process(struct pw_stream *stream)
 	if (impl->trigger) {
 		pw_impl_node_trigger(stream->node);
 	} else if (impl->driving) {
-		if (!impl->process_rt)
+		if (impl->direction == SPA_DIRECTION_OUTPUT && !impl->process_rt)
 			call_process(impl);
 		res = pw_loop_invoke(impl->data_loop,
 			do_trigger_driver, 1, NULL, 0, false, impl);