diff --git a/src/modules/module-filter-chain.c b/src/modules/module-filter-chain.c
index bdc8df29e..c110854b0 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-filter-chain.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-filter-chain.c
@@ -949,17 +949,17 @@ static int parse_link(struct graph *graph, struct spa_json *json)
 		return -ENOENT;
 	}
 
+	if (in_port->n_links > 0) {
+		pw_log_info("Can't have more than 1 link to %s, use a mixer", input);
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+	}
+
 	if ((link = calloc(1, sizeof(*link))) == NULL)
 		return -errno;
 
 	link->output = out_port;
 	link->input = in_port;
 
-	if (in_port->n_links > 0) {
-		pw_log_info("Can't have more than 1 link to %s, use a mixer", input);
-		return -ENOTSUP;
-	}
-
 	pw_log_info("linking %s:%s -> %s:%s",
 			out_port->node->name,
 			out_port->node->desc->desc->PortNames[out_port->p],
diff --git a/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/modules/module-ladspa-sink.c b/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/modules/module-ladspa-sink.c
index d2fb5666e..7a8f9d970 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/modules/module-ladspa-sink.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/modules/module-ladspa-sink.c
@@ -88,9 +88,14 @@ static int module_ladspa_sink_load(struct client *client, struct module *module)
 	struct module_ladspa_sink_data *data = module->user_data;
 	FILE *f;
 	char *args;
-	const char *str;
+	const char *str, *plugin, *label;
 	size_t size;
 
+	if ((plugin = pw_properties_get(module->props, "plugin")) == NULL)
+		return -EINVAL;
+	if ((label = pw_properties_get(module->props, "label")) == NULL)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	pw_properties_setf(data->capture_props, PW_KEY_NODE_GROUP, "ladspa-sink-%u", module->idx);
 	pw_properties_setf(data->playback_props, PW_KEY_NODE_GROUP, "ladspa-sink-%u", module->idx);
 
@@ -100,12 +105,8 @@ static int module_ladspa_sink_load(struct client *client, struct module *module)
 	fprintf(f, " filter.graph = {");
 	fprintf(f, " nodes = [ { ");
 	fprintf(f, " type = ladspa ");
-	if ((str = pw_properties_get(module->props, "plugin")) == NULL)
-		return -EINVAL;
-	fprintf(f, " plugin = \"%s\" ", str);
-	if ((str = pw_properties_get(module->props, "label")) == NULL)
-		return -EINVAL;
-	fprintf(f, " label = \"%s\" ", str);
+	fprintf(f, " plugin = \"%s\" ", plugin);
+	fprintf(f, " label = \"%s\" ", label);
 	if ((str = pw_properties_get(module->props, "inputs")) != NULL)
 		fprintf(f, " inputs = [ %s ] ", str);
 	if ((str = pw_properties_get(module->props, "outputs")) != NULL)
diff --git a/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/modules/module-ladspa-source.c b/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/modules/module-ladspa-source.c
index d081af3b9..ea4065650 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/modules/module-ladspa-source.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/modules/module-ladspa-source.c
@@ -88,9 +88,14 @@ static int module_ladspa_source_load(struct client *client, struct module *modul
 	struct module_ladspa_source_data *data = module->user_data;
 	FILE *f;
 	char *args;
-	const char *str;
+	const char *str, *plugin, *label;
 	size_t size;
 
+	if ((plugin = pw_properties_get(module->props, "plugin")) == NULL)
+		return -EINVAL;
+	if ((label = pw_properties_get(module->props, "label")) == NULL)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	pw_properties_setf(data->capture_props, PW_KEY_NODE_GROUP, "ladspa-source-%u", module->idx);
 	pw_properties_setf(data->playback_props, PW_KEY_NODE_GROUP, "ladspa-source-%u", module->idx);
 
@@ -100,12 +105,8 @@ static int module_ladspa_source_load(struct client *client, struct module *modul
 	fprintf(f, " filter.graph = {");
 	fprintf(f, " nodes = [ { ");
 	fprintf(f, " type = ladspa ");
-	if ((str = pw_properties_get(module->props, "plugin")) == NULL)
-		return -EINVAL;
-	fprintf(f, " plugin = \"%s\" ", str);
-	if ((str = pw_properties_get(module->props, "label")) == NULL)
-		return -EINVAL;
-	fprintf(f, " label = \"%s\" ", str);
+	fprintf(f, " plugin = \"%s\" ", plugin);
+	fprintf(f, " label = \"%s\" ", label);
 	if ((str = pw_properties_get(module->props, "inputs")) != NULL)
 		fprintf(f, " inputs = [ %s ] ", str);
 	if ((str = pw_properties_get(module->props, "outputs")) != NULL)