diff --git a/src/pipewire/impl-node.c b/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
index 25e470275..42122aba3 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
@@ -214,8 +214,9 @@ static int start_node(struct pw_impl_node *this)
 
 	pw_log_debug(NAME" %p: start node", this);
 
-	res = spa_node_send_command(this->node,
-				    &SPA_NODE_COMMAND_INIT(SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start));
+	if (!this->driving)
+		res = spa_node_send_command(this->node,
+			&SPA_NODE_COMMAND_INIT(SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start));
 
 	if (res < 0)
 		pw_log_error("(%s-%u) start node error %d: %s", this->name, this->info.id,
@@ -338,6 +339,9 @@ 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)
+			spa_node_send_command(node->node,
+				&SPA_NODE_COMMAND_INIT(SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start));
 		break;
 	default:
 		break;