diff --git a/src/pipewire/impl-node.c b/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
index 42122aba3..e4d070985 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ static int start_node(struct pw_impl_node *this)
 
 	pw_log_debug(NAME" %p: start node", this);
 
-	if (!this->driving)
+	if (!(this->driving && this->driver))
 		res = spa_node_send_command(this->node,
 			&SPA_NODE_COMMAND_INIT(SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start));
 
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ static void node_update_state(struct pw_impl_node *node, enum pw_node_state stat
 	switch (state) {
 	case PW_NODE_STATE_RUNNING:
 		pw_loop_invoke(node->data_loop, do_node_add, 1, NULL, 0, true, node);
-		if (node->driving)
+		if (node->driving && node->driver)
 			spa_node_send_command(node->node,
 				&SPA_NODE_COMMAND_INIT(SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start));
 		break;