diff --git a/src/scripts/linking/link-target.lua b/src/scripts/linking/link-target.lua
index 55d2986e..91e46c53 100644
--- a/src/scripts/linking/link-target.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/linking/link-target.lua
@@ -63,7 +63,12 @@ AsyncEventHook {
           out_item = target
         end
 
+        -- role links are those that link to targets with intended-roles
+        -- unless the stream is a monitor (usually pavucontrol) or the stream
+        -- is linking to the monitor ports of a sink (both are "input")
         local is_media_role_link = target_props["device.intended-roles"] ~= nil
+            and not cutils.parseBool (si_props ["stream.monitor"])
+            and si_props["item.node.direction"] ~= target_props["item.node.direction"]
 
         log:info (si,
           string.format ("link %s <-> %s passthrough:%s, exclusive:%s, media role link:%s",