/// Leave req_slot_count = 0 if allocate is false.
        }
 
+       proposed_table->stream_count = 1; /// Always 1 stream for SST
+       proposed_table->stream_allocations[0].slot_count = req_slot_count;
+       proposed_table->stream_allocations[0].vcp_id = vc_id;
+
+       if (link->aux_access_disabled)
+               return true;
+
        /// Write DPCD 2C0 = 1 to start updating
        update_status.bits.VC_PAYLOAD_TABLE_UPDATED = 1;
        core_link_write_dpcd(
                // TODO - DP2.0 Payload: Read and log the payload table from downstream branch
        }
 
-       proposed_table->stream_count = 1; /// Always 1 stream for SST
-       proposed_table->stream_allocations[0].slot_count = req_slot_count;
-       proposed_table->stream_allocations[0].vcp_id = vc_id;
-
        return result;
 }
 
        union lane_status dpcd_lane_status[LANE_COUNT_DP_MAX];
        union lane_align_status_updated lane_status_updated;
 
+       if (link->aux_access_disabled)
+               return true;
        for (i = 0; i < act_retries; i++) {
                get_lane_status(link, link->cur_link_settings.lane_count, dpcd_lane_status, &lane_status_updated);