return false;
 }
 
+/* check whether the NID is referred by any active paths */
+#define is_active_nid_for_any(codec, nid) \
+       is_active_nid(codec, nid, HDA_OUTPUT, 0)
+
 /* get the default amp value for the target state */
 static int get_amp_val_to_activate(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid,
                                   int dir, unsigned int caps, bool enable)
 
        for (i = 0; i < path->depth; i++) {
                hda_nid_t nid = path->path[i];
-               if (!snd_hda_check_power_state(codec, nid, AC_PWRST_D3)) {
+               if (!snd_hda_check_power_state(codec, nid, AC_PWRST_D3) &&
+                   !is_active_nid_for_any(codec, nid)) {
                        snd_hda_codec_write(codec, nid, 0,
                                            AC_VERB_SET_POWER_STATE,
                                            AC_PWRST_D3);
                return power_state;
        if (get_wcaps_type(get_wcaps(codec, nid)) >= AC_WID_POWER)
                return power_state;
-       if (is_active_nid(codec, nid, HDA_OUTPUT, 0))
+       if (is_active_nid_for_any(codec, nid))
                return power_state;
        return AC_PWRST_D3;
 }