diff --git a/src/examples/alsa-monitor.c b/src/examples/alsa-monitor.c
index dcc7d2a44..da1433a6c 100644
--- a/src/examples/alsa-monitor.c
+++ b/src/examples/alsa-monitor.c
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ static struct alsa_node *alsa_create_node(struct alsa_object *obj, uint32_t id,
 		str = "alsa-device";
 	pw_properties_set(node->props, PW_KEY_NODE_NAME, str);
 	pw_properties_set(node->props, "factory.name", info->factory_name);
+	pw_properties_set(node->props, "merger.monitor", "1");
 
 	node->monitor = monitor;
 	node->object = obj;
diff --git a/src/modules/module-adapter/adapter.c b/src/modules/module-adapter/adapter.c
index 74d074177..bc1a84dd5 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-adapter/adapter.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-adapter/adapter.c
@@ -306,8 +306,6 @@ struct pw_node *pw_adapter_new(struct pw_core *core,
 
 	if ((str = pw_properties_get(props, "factory.mode")) == NULL) {
 		if (direction == PW_DIRECTION_INPUT) {
-			if (pw_properties_get(props, "merger.monitor") == NULL)
-				pw_properties_set(props, "merger.monitor", "1");
 			str = "merge";
 		} else {
 			str = "split";