diff --git a/spa/include/spa/node/node.h b/spa/include/spa/node/node.h
index 50f5c6dfb..933ef178f 100644
--- a/spa/include/spa/node/node.h
+++ b/spa/include/spa/node/node.h
@@ -632,6 +632,16 @@ struct spa_node_methods {
 	_res;								\
 })
 
+#define spa_node_method_fast(o,method,version,...)			\
+({									\
+	int _res;							\
+	struct spa_node *_n = o;					\
+	spa_interface_call_fast_res(&_n->iface,				\
+			struct spa_node_methods, _res,			\
+			method, version, ##__VA_ARGS__);		\
+	_res;								\
+})
+
 #define spa_node_add_listener(n,...)		spa_node_method(n, add_listener, 0, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define spa_node_set_callbacks(n,...)		spa_node_method(n, set_callbacks, 0, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define spa_node_sync(n,...)			spa_node_method(n, sync, 0, __VA_ARGS__)
@@ -647,7 +657,9 @@ struct spa_node_methods {
 #define spa_node_port_set_io(n,...)		spa_node_method(n, port_set_io, 0, __VA_ARGS__)
 
 #define spa_node_port_reuse_buffer(n,...)	spa_node_method(n, port_reuse_buffer, 0, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define spa_node_port_reuse_buffer_fast(n,...)	spa_node_method_fast(n, port_reuse_buffer, 0, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define spa_node_process(n)			spa_node_method(n, process, 0)
+#define spa_node_process_fast(n)		spa_node_method_fast(n, process, 0)
 
 /**
  * \}
diff --git a/spa/include/spa/support/loop.h b/spa/include/spa/support/loop.h
index 0935c6243..01b9abc5b 100644
--- a/spa/include/spa/support/loop.h
+++ b/spa/include/spa/support/loop.h
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ struct spa_loop_control_hooks {
 	struct spa_hook_list *_l = l;							\
 	struct spa_hook *_h;								\
 	spa_list_for_each_reverse(_h, &_l->list, link)					\
-		spa_callbacks_call(&_h->cb, struct spa_loop_control_hooks, before, 0);	\
+		spa_callbacks_call_fast(&_h->cb, struct spa_loop_control_hooks, before, 0);	\
 })
 
 #define spa_loop_control_hook_after(l)							\
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ struct spa_loop_control_hooks {
 	struct spa_hook_list *_l = l;							\
 	struct spa_hook *_h;								\
 	spa_list_for_each(_h, &_l->list, link)						\
-		spa_callbacks_call(&_h->cb, struct spa_loop_control_hooks, after, 0);	\
+		spa_callbacks_call_fast(&_h->cb, struct spa_loop_control_hooks, after, 0);	\
 })
 
 /**
@@ -212,6 +212,16 @@ struct spa_loop_control_methods {
 	_res;								\
 })
 
+#define spa_loop_control_method_fast_r(o,method,version,...)		\
+({									\
+	int _res;							\
+	struct spa_loop_control *_o = o;				\
+	spa_interface_call_fast_res(&_o->iface,				\
+			struct spa_loop_control_methods, _res,		\
+			method, version, ##__VA_ARGS__);		\
+	_res;								\
+})
+
 #define spa_loop_control_get_fd(l)		spa_loop_control_method_r(l,get_fd,0)
 #define spa_loop_control_add_hook(l,...)	spa_loop_control_method_v(l,add_hook,0,__VA_ARGS__)
 #define spa_loop_control_enter(l)		spa_loop_control_method_v(l,enter,0)
@@ -219,6 +229,8 @@ struct spa_loop_control_methods {
 #define spa_loop_control_iterate(l,...)		spa_loop_control_method_r(l,iterate,0,__VA_ARGS__)
 #define spa_loop_control_check(l)		spa_loop_control_method_r(l,check,1)
 
+#define spa_loop_control_iterate_fast(l,...)	spa_loop_control_method_fast_r(l,iterate,0,__VA_ARGS__)
+
 typedef void (*spa_source_io_func_t) (void *data, int fd, uint32_t mask);
 typedef void (*spa_source_idle_func_t) (void *data);
 typedef void (*spa_source_event_func_t) (void *data, uint64_t count);
diff --git a/spa/include/spa/support/system.h b/spa/include/spa/support/system.h
index ad7e886fa..9ea41bce8 100644
--- a/spa/include/spa/support/system.h
+++ b/spa/include/spa/support/system.h
@@ -101,13 +101,12 @@ struct spa_system_methods {
 ({									\
 	volatile int _res = -ENOTSUP;					\
 	struct spa_system *_o = o;					\
-	spa_interface_call_res(&_o->iface,				\
+	spa_interface_call_fast_res(&_o->iface,				\
 			struct spa_system_methods, _res,		\
 			method, version, ##__VA_ARGS__);		\
 	_res;								\
 })
 
-
 #define spa_system_read(s,...)			spa_system_method_r(s,read,0,__VA_ARGS__)
 #define spa_system_write(s,...)			spa_system_method_r(s,write,0,__VA_ARGS__)
 #define spa_system_ioctl(s,...)			spa_system_method_r(s,ioctl,0,__VA_ARGS__)
diff --git a/spa/include/spa/utils/hook.h b/spa/include/spa/utils/hook.h
index 38d41113b..aea18d28e 100644
--- a/spa/include/spa/utils/hook.h
+++ b/spa/include/spa/utils/hook.h
@@ -162,6 +162,14 @@ struct spa_interface {
 	_res;									\
 })
 
+#define spa_callbacks_call_fast(callbacks,type,method,vers,...)			\
+({										\
+	const type *_f = (const type *) (callbacks)->funcs;			\
+	_f->method((callbacks)->data, ## __VA_ARGS__);				\
+	true;									\
+})
+
+
 /**
  * True if the \a callbacks are of version \a vers, false otherwise
  */
@@ -194,6 +202,11 @@ struct spa_interface {
 		res = _f->method((callbacks)->data, ## __VA_ARGS__);		\
 	res;									\
 })
+#define spa_callbacks_call_fast_res(callbacks,type,res,method,vers,...)		\
+({										\
+	const type *_f = (const type *) (callbacks)->funcs;			\
+	res = _f->method((callbacks)->data, ## __VA_ARGS__);			\
+})
 
 /**
  * True if the \a iface's callbacks are of version \a vers, false otherwise
@@ -216,6 +229,9 @@ struct spa_interface {
 #define spa_interface_call(iface,method_type,method,vers,...)			\
 	spa_callbacks_call(&(iface)->cb,method_type,method,vers,##__VA_ARGS__)
 
+#define spa_interface_call_fast(iface,method_type,method,vers,...)		\
+	spa_callbacks_call_fast(&(iface)->cb,method_type,method,vers,##__VA_ARGS__)
+
 /**
  * Invoke method named \a method in the callbacks on the given interface object.
  * The \a method_type defines the type of the method struct, not the interface
@@ -226,6 +242,9 @@ struct spa_interface {
 #define spa_interface_call_res(iface,method_type,res,method,vers,...)			\
 	spa_callbacks_call_res(&(iface)->cb,method_type,res,method,vers,##__VA_ARGS__)
 
+#define spa_interface_call_fast_res(iface,method_type,res,method,vers,...)		\
+	spa_callbacks_call_fast_res(&(iface)->cb,method_type,res,method,vers,##__VA_ARGS__)
+
 /**
  * \}
  */
diff --git a/spa/plugins/audioconvert/audioadapter.c b/spa/plugins/audioconvert/audioadapter.c
index 1bacdac57..517caf19e 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/audioconvert/audioadapter.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/audioconvert/audioadapter.c
@@ -1230,12 +1230,12 @@ static int follower_ready(void *data, int status)
 		if (this->direction == SPA_DIRECTION_OUTPUT) {
 			int retry = 8;
 			while (retry--) {
-				status = spa_node_process(this->convert);
+				status = spa_node_process_fast(this->convert);
 				if (status & SPA_STATUS_HAVE_DATA)
 					break;
 
 				if (status & SPA_STATUS_NEED_DATA) {
-					status = spa_node_process(this->follower);
+					status = spa_node_process_fast(this->follower);
 					if (!(status & SPA_STATUS_HAVE_DATA))
 						break;
 				}
@@ -1480,7 +1480,7 @@ static int impl_node_process(void *object)
 	if (this->target == this->follower) {
 		if (this->io_position)
 			this->io_rate_match.size = this->io_position->clock.duration;
-		return spa_node_process(this->follower);
+		return spa_node_process_fast(this->follower);
 	}
 
 	if (this->direction == SPA_DIRECTION_INPUT) {
@@ -1488,7 +1488,7 @@ static int impl_node_process(void *object)
 		 * First we run the converter to process the input for the follower
 		 * then if it produced data, we run the follower. */
 		while (retry--) {
-			status = spa_node_process(this->convert);
+			status = spa_node_process_fast(this->convert);
 			/* schedule the follower when the converter needed
 			 * a recycled buffer */
 			if (status == -EPIPE || status == 0)
@@ -1499,7 +1499,7 @@ static int impl_node_process(void *object)
 			if (status & (SPA_STATUS_HAVE_DATA | SPA_STATUS_DRAINED)) {
 				/* as long as the converter produced something or
 				 * is drained, process the follower. */
-				fstatus = spa_node_process(this->follower);
+				fstatus = spa_node_process_fast(this->follower);
 				if (fstatus < 0) {
 					status = fstatus;
 					break;
@@ -1520,7 +1520,7 @@ static int impl_node_process(void *object)
 			/* output node (source). First run the converter to make
 			 * sure we push out any queued data. Then when it needs
 			 * more data, schedule the follower. */
-			status = spa_node_process(this->convert);
+			status = spa_node_process_fast(this->convert);
 			if (status == 0)
 				status = SPA_STATUS_NEED_DATA;
 			else if (status < 0)
@@ -1537,7 +1537,7 @@ static int impl_node_process(void *object)
 			if (status & SPA_STATUS_NEED_DATA) {
 				/* the converter needs more data, schedule the
 				 * follower */
-				fstatus = spa_node_process(this->follower);
+				fstatus = spa_node_process_fast(this->follower);
 				if (fstatus < 0) {
 					status = fstatus;
 					break;
@@ -1556,7 +1556,7 @@ static int impl_node_process(void *object)
 			spa_node_call_xrun(&this->callbacks, 0, 0, NULL);
 
 	} else {
-		status = spa_node_process(this->follower);
+		status = spa_node_process_fast(this->follower);
 	}
 	spa_log_trace_fp(this->log, "%p: process status:%d", this, status);
 
diff --git a/spa/plugins/support/loop.c b/spa/plugins/support/loop.c
index bae9f27ef..d9d24e2ba 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/support/loop.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/support/loop.c
@@ -319,6 +319,8 @@ loop_add_hook(void *object,
 	      void *data)
 {
 	struct impl *impl = object;
+	spa_return_if_fail(SPA_CALLBACK_CHECK(hooks, before, 0));
+	spa_return_if_fail(SPA_CALLBACK_CHECK(hooks, after, 0));
 	spa_hook_list_append(&impl->hooks_list, hook, hooks, data);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/module-client-node/remote-node.c b/src/modules/module-client-node/remote-node.c
index 87c94b6a9..82ff95fa1 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-client-node/remote-node.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-client-node/remote-node.c
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ static int node_ready(void *d, int status)
 
 	if (status & SPA_STATUS_HAVE_DATA) {
 		spa_list_for_each(p, &node->rt.output_mix, rt.node_link)
-			spa_node_process(p->mix);
+			spa_node_process_fast(p->mix);
 	}
 
 	a->state[0].status = status;
diff --git a/src/pipewire/data-loop.c b/src/pipewire/data-loop.c
index 1ea4563e0..ff68ac759 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/data-loop.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/data-loop.c
@@ -51,18 +51,10 @@ static void *do_loop(void *user_data)
 {
 	struct pw_data_loop *this = user_data;
 	int res;
-	int (*iterate) (void *object, int timeout);
-	struct spa_interface *iface = &this->loop->control->iface;
-	struct spa_callbacks *cb = &iface->cb;
-	const struct spa_loop_control_methods *m =
-		(const struct spa_loop_control_methods *)cb->funcs;
+	struct spa_callbacks *cb = &this->loop->control->iface.cb;
+	const struct spa_loop_control_methods *m = cb->funcs;
 	void *data = cb->data;
-
-	if (!SPA_CALLBACK_CHECK(m, iterate, 0)) {
-		pw_log_error("loop is missing iterate method");
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	iterate = m->iterate;
+	int (*iterate) (void *object, int timeout) = m->iterate;
 
 	pw_log_debug("%p: enter thread", this);
 	pw_loop_enter(this->loop);
diff --git a/src/pipewire/impl-node.c b/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
index e89b90102..6fc1a7dc1 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/impl-node.c
@@ -1166,13 +1166,13 @@ static inline int process_node(void *data)
 
 	if (SPA_LIKELY(this->added)) {
 		spa_list_for_each(p, &this->rt.input_mix, rt.node_link)
-			spa_node_process(p->mix);
+			spa_node_process_fast(p->mix);
 
-		status = spa_node_process(this->node);
+		status = spa_node_process_fast(this->node);
 
 		if (status & SPA_STATUS_HAVE_DATA) {
 			spa_list_for_each(p, &this->rt.output_mix, rt.node_link)
-				spa_node_process(p->mix);
+				spa_node_process_fast(p->mix);
 		}
 	} else {
 		/* This can happen when we deactivated the node but some links are
@@ -1822,7 +1822,7 @@ again:
 		/* remote nodes have done the output mix already before
 		 * they triggered the ready event */
 		spa_list_for_each(p, &node->rt.output_mix, rt.node_link)
-			spa_node_process(p->mix);
+			spa_node_process_fast(p->mix);
 	}
 	return resume_node(node, status, nsec);
 }
diff --git a/src/pipewire/loop.c b/src/pipewire/loop.c
index 0d9248e55..914dd459c 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/loop.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/loop.c
@@ -109,6 +109,12 @@ struct pw_loop *pw_loop_new(const struct spa_dict *props)
                 goto error_unload_loop;
         }
 	this->control = iface;
+	if (!spa_interface_callback_check(&this->control->iface,
+			struct spa_loop_control_methods, iterate, 0)) {
+		res = -EINVAL;
+		pw_log_error("%p: loop does not support iterate", this);
+		goto error_unload_loop;
+	}
 
         if ((res = spa_handle_get_interface(impl->loop_handle,
 					    SPA_TYPE_INTERFACE_LoopUtils,
diff --git a/src/pipewire/loop.h b/src/pipewire/loop.h
index 6769ab646..25f5cfb22 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/loop.h
+++ b/src/pipewire/loop.h
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ pw_loop_destroy(struct pw_loop *loop);
 #define pw_loop_get_fd(l)		spa_loop_control_get_fd((l)->control)
 #define pw_loop_add_hook(l,...)		spa_loop_control_add_hook((l)->control,__VA_ARGS__)
 #define pw_loop_enter(l)		spa_loop_control_enter((l)->control)
-#define pw_loop_iterate(l,...)		spa_loop_control_iterate((l)->control,__VA_ARGS__)
 #define pw_loop_leave(l)		spa_loop_control_leave((l)->control)
+#define pw_loop_iterate(l,...)		spa_loop_control_iterate_fast((l)->control,__VA_ARGS__)
 
 #define pw_loop_add_io(l,...)		spa_loop_utils_add_io((l)->utils,__VA_ARGS__)
 #define pw_loop_update_io(l,...)	spa_loop_utils_update_io((l)->utils,__VA_ARGS__)
diff --git a/test/test-loop.c b/test/test-loop.c
index 523f39031..be9563ae8 100644
--- a/test/test-loop.c
+++ b/test/test-loop.c
@@ -234,6 +234,10 @@ struct dmsbd_data {
 	struct spa_hook hook;
 };
 
+static void dmsbd_before(void *data)
+{
+}
+
 static void dmsbd_after(void *data)
 {
 	struct dmsbd_data *d = data;
@@ -244,6 +248,7 @@ static void dmsbd_after(void *data)
 
 static const struct spa_loop_control_hooks dmsbd_hooks = {
 	SPA_VERSION_LOOP_CONTROL_HOOKS,
+	.before = dmsbd_before,
 	.after = dmsbd_after,
 };