diff --git a/src/pipewire/stream.c b/src/pipewire/stream.c
index 9e9952c1e..baa0acdb5 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/stream.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/stream.c
@@ -1554,8 +1554,10 @@ pw_stream_connect(struct pw_stream *stream,
 		pw_properties_setf(stream->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_TARGET, "%d", target_id);
 	else if ((str = getenv("PIPEWIRE_NODE")) != NULL)
 		pw_properties_set(stream->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_TARGET, str);
-	if (flags & PW_STREAM_FLAG_AUTOCONNECT)
-		pw_properties_set(stream->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_AUTOCONNECT, "true");
+	if (flags & PW_STREAM_FLAG_AUTOCONNECT) {
+		str = getenv("PIPEWIRE_AUTOCONNECT");
+		pw_properties_set(stream->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_AUTOCONNECT, str ? str : "true");
+	}
 	if (flags & PW_STREAM_FLAG_DRIVER)
 		pw_properties_set(stream->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_DRIVER, "true");
 	if (flags & PW_STREAM_FLAG_EXCLUSIVE)