diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/ipc4-topology.c b/sound/soc/sof/ipc4-topology.c
index ba99114e86a9..ae8ec98bb4eb 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/ipc4-topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/ipc4-topology.c
@@ -1805,12 +1805,19 @@ static int sof_ipc4_route_free(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_sof_route *s
 	struct sof_ipc4_fw_module *sink_fw_module = sink_widget->module_info;
 	struct sof_ipc4_msg msg = {{ 0 }};
 	u32 header, extension;
-	int ret;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	dev_dbg(sdev->dev, "unbind modules %s:%d -> %s:%d\n",
 		src_widget->widget->name, sroute->src_queue_id,
 		sink_widget->widget->name, sroute->dst_queue_id);
 
+	/*
+	 * routes belonging to the same pipeline will be disconnected by the FW when the pipeline
+	 * is freed. So avoid sending this IPC which will be ignored by the FW anyway.
+	 */
+	if (src_widget->pipe_widget == sink_widget->pipe_widget)
+		goto out;
+
 	header = src_fw_module->man4_module_entry.id;
 	header |= SOF_IPC4_MOD_INSTANCE(src_widget->instance_id);
 	header |= SOF_IPC4_MSG_TYPE_SET(SOF_IPC4_MOD_UNBIND);
@@ -1829,7 +1836,7 @@ static int sof_ipc4_route_free(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_sof_route *s
 	if (ret < 0)
 		dev_err(sdev->dev, "failed to unbind modules %s -> %s\n",
 			src_widget->widget->name, sink_widget->widget->name);
-
+out:
 	sof_ipc4_put_queue_id(sink_widget, sroute->dst_queue_id, SOF_PIN_TYPE_SINK);
 	sof_ipc4_put_queue_id(src_widget, sroute->src_queue_id, SOF_PIN_TYPE_SOURCE);