diff --git a/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-graph.c b/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-graph.c
index f4e907c271cc..d013fd2a59fd 100644
--- a/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-graph.c
+++ b/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-graph.c
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ struct pipeline *pipeline_new(uint32_t pipeline_id, uint32_t priority, uint32_t
 	p->priority = priority;
 	p->pipeline_id = pipeline_id;
 	p->status = COMP_STATE_INIT;
+	p->trigger.cmd = -EINVAL;
 	ret = memcpy_s(&p->tctx, sizeof(struct tr_ctx), &pipe_tr,
 		       sizeof(struct tr_ctx));
 	assert(!ret);
diff --git a/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-schedule.c b/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-schedule.c
index df2b4412e300..ce536e366ae1 100644
--- a/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-schedule.c
+++ b/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-schedule.c
@@ -55,12 +55,44 @@ static enum task_state pipeline_task(void *arg)
 			return SOF_TASK_STATE_COMPLETED;
 	}
 
+	if (p->trigger.cmd >= 0) {
+		/* First pipeline task run for either START or RELEASE */
+		struct sof_ipc_reply reply = {
+			.hdr.cmd = SOF_IPC_GLB_REPLY,
+			.hdr.size = sizeof(reply),
+		};
+
+		err = pipeline_trigger_run(p, p->trigger.host, p->trigger.cmd);
+		p->trigger.cmd = -EINVAL;
+
+		if (err < 0) {
+			pipe_err(p, "pipeline_task(): failed to trigger components: %d", err);
+			reply.error = err;
+			err = SOF_TASK_STATE_COMPLETED;
+		} else if (err == PPL_STATUS_PATH_STOP) {
+			pipe_warn(p, "pipeline_task(): stopping for xrun");
+			err = SOF_TASK_STATE_COMPLETED;
+		} else {
+			p->status = COMP_STATE_ACTIVE;
+			err = SOF_TASK_STATE_RESCHEDULE;
+		}
+
+		ipc_msg_reply(&reply);
+
+		return err;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * The first execution of the pipeline task above has triggered all
+	 * pipeline components. Subsequent iterations actually perform data
+	 * copying below.
+	 */
 	err = pipeline_copy(p);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		/* try to recover */
 		err = pipeline_xrun_recover(p);
 		if (err < 0) {
-			pipe_err(p, "pipeline_task(): xrun recover failed! pipeline will be stopped!");
+			pipe_err(p, "pipeline_task(): xrun recovery failed! pipeline is stopped.");
 			/* failed - host will stop this pipeline */
 			return SOF_TASK_STATE_COMPLETED;
 		}
@@ -71,8 +103,7 @@ static enum task_state pipeline_task(void *arg)
 	return SOF_TASK_STATE_RESCHEDULE;
 }
 
-static struct task *pipeline_task_init(struct pipeline *p, uint32_t type,
-				       enum task_state (*func)(void *data))
+static struct task *pipeline_task_init(struct pipeline *p, uint32_t type)
 {
 	struct pipeline_task *task = NULL;
 
@@ -82,7 +113,7 @@ static struct task *pipeline_task_init(struct pipeline *p, uint32_t type,
 		return NULL;
 
 	if (schedule_task_init_ll(&task->task, SOF_UUID(pipe_task_uuid), type,
-				  p->priority, func,
+				  p->priority, pipeline_task,
 				  p, p->core, 0) < 0) {
 		rfree(task);
 		return NULL;
@@ -108,9 +139,11 @@ int pipeline_schedule_config(struct pipeline *p, uint32_t sched_id,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/* trigger connected pipelines: either immediately or schedule them */
 void pipeline_schedule_triggered(struct pipeline_walk_context *ctx,
 				 int cmd)
 {
+	struct pipeline_data *ppl_data = ctx->comp_data;
 	struct list_item *tlist;
 	struct pipeline *p;
 	uint32_t flags;
@@ -122,25 +155,31 @@ void pipeline_schedule_triggered(struct pipeline_walk_context *ctx,
 	 */
 	irq_local_disable(flags);
 
-	list_for_item(tlist, &ctx->pipelines) {
-		p = container_of(tlist, struct pipeline, list);
-
-		switch (cmd) {
-		case COMP_TRIGGER_PAUSE:
-		case COMP_TRIGGER_STOP:
+	switch (cmd) {
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_PAUSE:
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_STOP:
+		list_for_item(tlist, &ctx->pipelines) {
+			p = container_of(tlist, struct pipeline, list);
 			pipeline_schedule_cancel(p);
 			p->status = COMP_STATE_PAUSED;
-			break;
-		case COMP_TRIGGER_RELEASE:
-		case COMP_TRIGGER_START:
+		}
+		break;
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_RELEASE:
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_START:
+		list_for_item(tlist, &ctx->pipelines) {
+			p = container_of(tlist, struct pipeline, list);
+			if (pipeline_is_timer_driven(p)) {
+				/* Use the first of connected pipelines to trigger */
+				if (cmd >= 0) {
+					p->trigger.cmd = cmd;
+					p->trigger.host = ppl_data->start;
+					cmd = -EINVAL;
+				}
+			} else {
+				p->xrun_bytes = 0;
+				p->status = COMP_STATE_ACTIVE;
+			}
 			pipeline_schedule_copy(p, 0);
-			p->xrun_bytes = 0;
-			p->status = COMP_STATE_ACTIVE;
-			break;
-		case COMP_TRIGGER_SUSPEND:
-		case COMP_TRIGGER_RESUME:
-		default:
-			break;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -159,7 +198,7 @@ int pipeline_comp_task_init(struct pipeline *p)
 		type = pipeline_is_timer_driven(p) ? SOF_SCHEDULE_LL_TIMER :
 			SOF_SCHEDULE_LL_DMA;
 
-		p->pipe_task = pipeline_task_init(p, type, pipeline_task);
+		p->pipe_task = pipeline_task_init(p, type);
 		if (!p->pipe_task) {
 			pipe_err(p, "pipeline_comp_task_init(): task init failed");
 			return -ENOMEM;
diff --git a/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-stream.c b/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-stream.c
index 578447df7030..8350036012dc 100644
--- a/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-stream.c
+++ b/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-stream.c
@@ -59,28 +59,48 @@ pipeline_should_report_enodata_on_trigger(struct comp_dev *rsrc,
 	return false;
 }
 
+/* Runs in IPC or in pipeline task context */
 static int pipeline_comp_trigger(struct comp_dev *current,
 				 struct comp_buffer *calling_buf,
 				 struct pipeline_walk_context *ctx, int dir)
 {
 	struct pipeline_data *ppl_data = ctx->comp_data;
-	int is_single_ppl = comp_is_single_pipeline(current, ppl_data->start);
-	int is_same_sched =
-		pipeline_is_same_sched_comp(current->pipeline,
-					    ppl_data->start->pipeline);
+	bool is_single_ppl = comp_is_single_pipeline(current, ppl_data->start);
+	bool is_same_sched, async;
 	int err;
 
-	pipe_dbg(current->pipeline, "pipeline_comp_trigger(), current->comp.id = %u, dir = %u",
+	pipe_dbg(current->pipeline,
+		 "pipeline_comp_trigger(), current->comp.id = %u, dir = %u",
 		 dev_comp_id(current), dir);
 
+	switch (ppl_data->cmd) {
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_PAUSE:
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_STOP:
+		/*
+		 * PAUSE and STOP are triggered in IPC context, not from the
+		 * pipeline task
+		 */
+		async = true;
+		break;
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_RELEASE:
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_START:
+		async = !pipeline_is_timer_driven(current->pipeline);
+		break;
+	default:
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	is_same_sched = pipeline_is_same_sched_comp(current->pipeline,
+						    ppl_data->start->pipeline);
+
 	/* trigger should propagate to the connected pipelines,
 	 * which need to be scheduled together
 	 */
 	if (!is_single_ppl && !is_same_sched) {
-		pipe_dbg(current->pipeline, "pipeline_comp_trigger(), current is from another pipeline");
+		pipe_dbg(current->pipeline,
+			 "pipeline_comp_trigger(), current is from another pipeline");
 
-		if (pipeline_should_report_enodata_on_trigger(current, ctx,
-							      dir))
+		if (pipeline_should_report_enodata_on_trigger(current, ctx, dir))
 			return -ENODATA;
 
 		return 0;
@@ -91,7 +111,12 @@ static int pipeline_comp_trigger(struct comp_dev *current,
 	if (err < 0 || err == PPL_STATUS_PATH_STOP)
 		return err;
 
-	pipeline_comp_trigger_sched_comp(current->pipeline, current, ctx);
+	/*
+	 * Add scheduling components to the list. This is only needed for the
+	 * stopping flow.
+	 */
+	if (async)
+		pipeline_comp_trigger_sched_comp(current->pipeline, current, ctx);
 
 	return pipeline_for_each_comp(current, ctx, dir);
 }
@@ -101,14 +126,15 @@ static int pipeline_comp_copy(struct comp_dev *current,
 			      struct pipeline_walk_context *ctx, int dir)
 {
 	struct pipeline_data *ppl_data = ctx->comp_data;
-	int is_single_ppl = comp_is_single_pipeline(current, ppl_data->start);
+	bool is_single_ppl = comp_is_single_pipeline(current, ppl_data->start);
 	int err;
 
 	pipe_dbg(current->pipeline, "pipeline_comp_copy(), current->comp.id = %u, dir = %u",
 		 dev_comp_id(current), dir);
 
 	if (!is_single_ppl) {
-		pipe_dbg(current->pipeline, "pipeline_comp_copy(), current is from another pipeline and can't be scheduled together");
+		pipe_dbg(current->pipeline,
+			 "pipeline_comp_copy(), current is from another pipeline and can't be scheduled together");
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -170,10 +196,87 @@ int pipeline_copy(struct pipeline *p)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-/* trigger pipeline */
+/* only collect scheduling components */
+static int pipeline_comp_list(struct comp_dev *current,
+			      struct comp_buffer *calling_buf,
+			      struct pipeline_walk_context *ctx, int dir)
+{
+	struct pipeline_data *ppl_data = ctx->comp_data;
+	bool is_single_ppl = comp_is_single_pipeline(current, ppl_data->start);
+	bool is_same_sched = pipeline_is_same_sched_comp(current->pipeline,
+							 ppl_data->start->pipeline);
+
+	if (!is_single_ppl && !is_same_sched) {
+		pipe_dbg(current->pipeline,
+			 "pipeline_comp_list(), current is from another pipeline");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/* Add scheduling components to the list */
+	pipeline_comp_trigger_sched_comp(current->pipeline, current, ctx);
+
+	return pipeline_for_each_comp(current, ctx, dir);
+}
+
+/* build a list of connected pipelines' scheduling components and trigger them */
+static int pipeline_trigger_list(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *host, int cmd)
+{
+	struct pipeline_data data = {
+		.start = host,
+		.cmd = cmd,
+	};
+	struct pipeline_walk_context walk_ctx = {
+		.comp_func = pipeline_comp_list,
+		.comp_data = &data,
+		.skip_incomplete = true,
+	};
+	int ret;
+
+	list_init(&walk_ctx.pipelines);
+
+	ret = walk_ctx.comp_func(host, NULL, &walk_ctx, host->direction);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		pipe_err(p, "pipeline_trigger_list(): ret = %d, host->comp.id = %u, cmd = %d",
+			 ret, dev_comp_id(host), cmd);
+	else
+		pipeline_schedule_triggered(&walk_ctx, cmd);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/* trigger pipeline in IPC context */
 int pipeline_trigger(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *host, int cmd)
 {
-	struct pipeline_data data;
+	int ret;
+
+	pipe_info(p, "pipe trigger cmd %d", cmd);
+
+	switch (cmd) {
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_PAUSE:
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_STOP:
+		/* Execute immediately */
+		ret = pipeline_trigger_run(p, host, cmd);
+		return ret == PPL_STATUS_PATH_STOP ? 0 : ret;
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_RELEASE:
+	case COMP_TRIGGER_START:
+		/* Add all connected pipelines to the list and schedule them all */
+		ret = pipeline_trigger_list(p, host, cmd);
+		if (ret < 0)
+			return ret;
+		/* IPC response will be sent from the task */
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/* actually execute pipeline trigger, including components: either in IPC or in task context */
+int pipeline_trigger_run(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *host, int cmd)
+{
+	struct pipeline_data data = {
+		.start = host,
+		.cmd = cmd,
+	};
 	struct pipeline_walk_context walk_ctx = {
 		.comp_func = pipeline_comp_trigger,
 		.comp_data = &data,
@@ -181,7 +284,7 @@ int pipeline_trigger(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *host, int cmd)
 	};
 	int ret;
 
-	pipe_info(p, "pipe trigger cmd %d", cmd);
+	pipe_dbg(p, "execute trigger cmd %d on pipe %u", cmd, p->pipeline_id);
 
 	list_init(&walk_ctx.pipelines);
 
@@ -191,20 +294,23 @@ int pipeline_trigger(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *host, int cmd)
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			pipe_err(p, "xrun handle: ret = %d", ret);
 			return ret;
-		} else if (ret == PPL_STATUS_PATH_STOP)
+		}
+
+		if (ret == PPL_STATUS_PATH_STOP)
 			/* no further action needed*/
-			return 0;
+			return pipeline_is_timer_driven(p);
 	}
 
-	data.start = host;
-	data.cmd = cmd;
-
 	ret = walk_ctx.comp_func(host, NULL, &walk_ctx, host->direction);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		pipe_err(p, "pipeline_trigger(): ret = %d, host->comp.id = %u, cmd = %d",
+	if (ret < 0)
+		pipe_err(p, "pipeline_trigger_run(): ret = %d, host->comp.id = %u, cmd = %d",
 			 ret, dev_comp_id(host), cmd);
-	}
 
+	/*
+	 * When called from the pipeline task, pipeline_comp_trigger() will not
+	 * add pipelines to the list, so pipeline_schedule_triggered() will have
+	 * no effect.
+	 */
 	pipeline_schedule_triggered(&walk_ctx, cmd);
 
 	return ret;
diff --git a/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-xrun.c b/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-xrun.c
index 1f22fbb93b51..04b85f3abfab 100644
--- a/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-xrun.c
+++ b/src/audio/pipeline/pipeline-xrun.c
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ void pipeline_xrun(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *dev,
 		return;
 
 	/* notify all pipeline comps we are in XRUN, and stop copying */
-	ret = pipeline_trigger(p, p->source_comp, COMP_TRIGGER_XRUN);
+	ret = pipeline_trigger_run(p, p->source_comp, COMP_TRIGGER_XRUN);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		pipe_err(p, "pipeline_xrun(): Pipelines notification about XRUN failed, ret = %d",
 			 ret);
diff --git a/src/drivers/intel/cavs/ipc.c b/src/drivers/intel/cavs/ipc.c
index 67528d6748b4..a272ebb8e46b 100644
--- a/src/drivers/intel/cavs/ipc.c
+++ b/src/drivers/intel/cavs/ipc.c
@@ -201,10 +201,13 @@ enum task_state ipc_platform_do_cmd(void *data)
 void ipc_platform_complete_cmd(void *data)
 {
 	struct ipc *ipc = data;
+	uint32_t flags;
 
-	if (!cpu_is_me(ipc->core))
+	if (!cpu_is_me(ipc->core) || ipc->delayed_response)
 		return;
 
+	spin_lock_irq(&ipc->lock, flags);
+
 	/* write 1 to clear busy, and trigger interrupt to host*/
 #if CAVS_VERSION == CAVS_VERSION_1_5
 	ipc_write(IPC_DIPCT, ipc_read(IPC_DIPCT) | IPC_DIPCT_BUSY);
@@ -229,6 +232,8 @@ void ipc_platform_complete_cmd(void *data)
 	}
 
 #endif
+
+	spin_unlock_irq(&ipc->lock, flags);
 }
 
 int ipc_platform_send_msg(struct ipc_msg *msg)
diff --git a/src/include/sof/audio/pipeline.h b/src/include/sof/audio/pipeline.h
index bc3f5fc0e411..a23b9f7bf61d 100644
--- a/src/include/sof/audio/pipeline.h
+++ b/src/include/sof/audio/pipeline.h
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ struct pipeline {
 	/* position update */
 	uint32_t posn_offset;		/* position update array offset*/
 	struct ipc_msg *msg;
+	struct {
+		int cmd;
+		struct comp_dev *host;
+	} trigger;
 };
 
 struct pipeline_walk_context {
@@ -218,14 +222,22 @@ int pipeline_prepare(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *cd);
  */
 
 /**
- * \brief Trigger pipeline - atomic
+ * \brief Trigger pipeline - IPC context
  * \param[in] p pipeline.
- * \param[in] host_cd Host DMA component.
+ * \param[in] host Host DMA component.
  * \param[in] cmd Pipeline trigger command.
  * \return 0 on success.
  */
-/*  */
-int pipeline_trigger(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *host_cd, int cmd);
+int pipeline_trigger(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *host, int cmd);
+
+/**
+ * \brief Trigger pipeline - either IPC or pipeline task context
+ * \param[in] p pipeline.
+ * \param[in] host Host DMA component.
+ * \param[in] cmd Pipeline trigger command.
+ * \return 0 on success.
+ */
+int pipeline_trigger_run(struct pipeline *p, struct comp_dev *host, int cmd);
 
 /**
  * \brief Copy data along a pipeline.
diff --git a/src/include/sof/ipc/common.h b/src/include/sof/ipc/common.h
index a53010a02f69..79cf8de4c8e5 100644
--- a/src/include/sof/ipc/common.h
+++ b/src/include/sof/ipc/common.h
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ struct ipc {
 
 	struct list_item msg_list;	/* queue of messages to be sent */
 	bool is_notification_pending;	/* notification is being sent to host */
+	bool delayed_response;		/* response will be sent from a different context */
 	unsigned int core;		/* core, processing the IPC */
 
 	struct list_item comp_list;	/* list of component devices */
@@ -196,4 +197,10 @@ void ipc_cmd(ipc_cmd_hdr *hdr);
  */
 int ipc_process_on_core(uint32_t core, bool blocking);
 
+/**
+ * \brief reply to an IPC message.
+ * @param[in] reply pointer to the reply structure.
+ */
+void ipc_msg_reply(struct sof_ipc_reply *reply);
+
 #endif /* __SOF_DRIVERS_IPC_H__ */
diff --git a/src/ipc/ipc-common.c b/src/ipc/ipc-common.c
index f88412558a37..9c341636de90 100644
--- a/src/ipc/ipc-common.c
+++ b/src/ipc/ipc-common.c
@@ -220,6 +220,15 @@ void ipc_msg_send(struct ipc_msg *msg, void *data, bool high_priority)
 	spin_unlock_irq(&ipc->lock, flags);
 }
 
+void ipc_msg_reply(struct sof_ipc_reply *reply)
+{
+	struct ipc *ipc = ipc_get();
+
+	ipc->delayed_response = false;
+	mailbox_hostbox_write(0, reply, reply->hdr.size);
+	ipc_platform_complete_cmd(ipc);
+}
+
 void ipc_schedule_process(struct ipc *ipc)
 {
 	schedule_task(&ipc->ipc_task, 0, IPC_PERIOD_USEC);
diff --git a/src/ipc/ipc3/handler.c b/src/ipc/ipc3/handler.c
index eb00efe70033..cf01a1e9a6a9 100644
--- a/src/ipc/ipc3/handler.c
+++ b/src/ipc/ipc3/handler.c
@@ -438,11 +438,18 @@ static int ipc_stream_trigger(uint32_t header)
 	}
 
 	/* trigger the component */
-	ret = pipeline_trigger(pcm_dev->cd->pipeline, pcm_dev->cd, cmd);
-	if (ret < 0) {
+	if (pipeline_is_timer_driven(pcm_dev->cd->pipeline)) {
+		ret = pipeline_trigger(pcm_dev->cd->pipeline, pcm_dev->cd, cmd);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			ipc->delayed_response = true;
+	} else {
+		ret = pipeline_trigger_run(pcm_dev->cd->pipeline, pcm_dev->cd, cmd);
+	}
+
+	if (ret < 0)
 		tr_err(&ipc_tr, "ipc: comp %d trigger 0x%x failed %d",
 		       stream.comp_id, ipc_command, ret);
-	}
+
 
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -1510,6 +1517,8 @@ void ipc_cmd(ipc_cmd_hdr *_hdr)
 		/* A new IPC from the host, delivered to the primary core */
 		ipc->core = PLATFORM_PRIMARY_CORE_ID;
 
+	ipc->delayed_response = false;
+
 	type = iGS(hdr->cmd);
 
 	switch (type) {