diff --git a/src/audio/aria/aria.c b/src/audio/aria/aria.c
index b9f321a5c807..32c13edc8a5a 100644
--- a/src/audio/aria/aria.c
+++ b/src/audio/aria/aria.c
@@ -190,9 +190,13 @@ static int aria_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	comp_info(dev, "aria_prepare()");
 
 	source = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
-	aria_set_stream_params(source, mod);
-
 	sink = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!source || !sink) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
+	aria_set_stream_params(source, mod);
 	aria_set_stream_params(sink, mod);
 
 	if (audio_stream_get_valid_fmt(&source->stream) != SOF_IPC_FRAME_S24_4LE ||
diff --git a/src/audio/asrc/asrc.c b/src/audio/asrc/asrc.c
index df4f8d39f3cb..e8106d5112c9 100644
--- a/src/audio/asrc/asrc.c
+++ b/src/audio/asrc/asrc.c
@@ -399,6 +399,10 @@ static int asrc_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
 	/* update the source/sink buffer formats. Sink rate will be modified below */
 	asrc_update_buffer_format(sourceb, cd);
@@ -549,7 +553,10 @@ static int asrc_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	/* SRC component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer */
+	/*
+	 * SRC component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer,
+	 * asrc_params() has checked their validity already
+	 */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 
diff --git a/src/audio/crossover/crossover.c b/src/audio/crossover/crossover.c
index e98379389633..c6b34acd1b45 100644
--- a/src/audio/crossover/crossover.c
+++ b/src/audio/crossover/crossover.c
@@ -531,15 +531,19 @@ static int crossover_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 	struct comp_buffer *source, *sink;
 	int channels;
-	int ret = 0;
 
 	comp_info(dev, "crossover_prepare()");
 
+	source = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	if (!source) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 	crossover_params(mod);
 
 	/* Crossover has a variable number of sinks */
 	mod->max_sinks = SOF_CROSSOVER_MAX_STREAMS;
-	source = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 
 	/* Get source data format */
 	cd->source_format = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&source->stream);
@@ -550,11 +554,8 @@ static int crossover_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 		if (cd->source_format != audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sink->stream)) {
 			comp_err(dev, "crossover_prepare(): Source fmt %d and sink fmt %d are different.",
 				 cd->source_format, audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sink->stream));
-			ret = -EINVAL;
+			return -EINVAL;
 		}
-
-		if (ret < 0)
-			return ret;
 	}
 
 	comp_info(dev, "crossover_prepare(), source_format=%d, sink_formats=%d, nch=%d",
@@ -570,7 +571,8 @@ static int crossover_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	}
 
 	if (cd->config) {
-		ret = crossover_setup(mod, channels);
+		int ret = crossover_setup(mod, channels);
+
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			comp_err(dev, "crossover_prepare(), setup failed");
 			return ret;
diff --git a/src/audio/crossover/crossover_ipc4.c b/src/audio/crossover/crossover_ipc4.c
index 9fbe7730e53e..981d34bafb7f 100644
--- a/src/audio/crossover/crossover_ipc4.c
+++ b/src/audio/crossover/crossover_ipc4.c
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ void crossover_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 	ipc4_base_module_cfg_to_stream_params(&mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg, params);
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, params->rate);
 
+	/* First producer verified by the caller */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	ipc4_update_buffer_format(sourceb, &mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt);
 
diff --git a/src/audio/dcblock/dcblock.c b/src/audio/dcblock/dcblock.c
index b32a25c7bb8a..e7d1a0b90420 100644
--- a/src/audio/dcblock/dcblock.c
+++ b/src/audio/dcblock/dcblock.c
@@ -195,11 +195,15 @@ static int dcblock_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	comp_info(dev, "dcblock_prepare()");
 
-	dcblock_params(mod);
-
 	/* DC Filter component will only ever have one source and sink buffer */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
+	dcblock_params(mod);
 
 	/* get source data format */
 	cd->source_format = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sourceb->stream);
diff --git a/src/audio/dcblock/dcblock_ipc4.c b/src/audio/dcblock/dcblock_ipc4.c
index 534510841b85..d8030126a270 100644
--- a/src/audio/dcblock/dcblock_ipc4.c
+++ b/src/audio/dcblock/dcblock_ipc4.c
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ void dcblock_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 	ipc4_base_module_cfg_to_stream_params(&mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg, params);
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, params->rate);
 
+	/* The caller has verified, that sink and source buffers are connected */
+
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 	ipc4_update_buffer_format(sinkb, &mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt);
 
diff --git a/src/audio/drc/drc.c b/src/audio/drc/drc.c
index bd22c557478f..0f06293fc243 100644
--- a/src/audio/drc/drc.c
+++ b/src/audio/drc/drc.c
@@ -326,6 +326,8 @@ static void drc_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 	ipc4_base_module_cfg_to_stream_params(&mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg, params);
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, params->rate);
 
+	/* The caller has verified, that sink and source buffers are connected */
+
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 	ipc4_update_buffer_format(sinkb, &mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt);
 
@@ -347,13 +349,17 @@ static int drc_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	comp_info(dev, "drc_prepare()");
 
-#if CONFIG_IPC_MAJOR_4
-	drc_params(mod);
-#endif
-
 	/* DRC component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
+#if CONFIG_IPC_MAJOR_4
+	drc_params(mod);
+#endif
 
 	/* get source data format */
 	cd->source_format = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sourceb->stream);
diff --git a/src/audio/eq_fir/eq_fir.c b/src/audio/eq_fir/eq_fir.c
index f9a4b4bd196e..344e9e25b5af 100644
--- a/src/audio/eq_fir/eq_fir.c
+++ b/src/audio/eq_fir/eq_fir.c
@@ -416,15 +416,20 @@ static int eq_fir_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	comp_dbg(dev, "eq_fir_prepare()");
 
+	/* EQ component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer. */
+	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 	ret = eq_fir_params(mod);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		comp_set_state(dev, COMP_TRIGGER_RESET);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	/* EQ component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer. */
-	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
-	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 	eq_fir_set_alignment(&sourceb->stream, &sinkb->stream);
 	channels = audio_stream_get_channels(&sinkb->stream);
 	frame_fmt = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sourceb->stream);
diff --git a/src/audio/eq_fir/eq_fir_ipc4.c b/src/audio/eq_fir/eq_fir_ipc4.c
index eec4165b748b..9c73466cfb4a 100644
--- a/src/audio/eq_fir/eq_fir_ipc4.c
+++ b/src/audio/eq_fir/eq_fir_ipc4.c
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ int eq_fir_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 	ipc4_base_module_cfg_to_stream_params(&mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg, params);
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, params->rate);
 
+	/* The caller has verified, that sink and source buffers are connected */
+
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	ipc4_update_buffer_format(sourceb, &mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt);
 
diff --git a/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir.c b/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir.c
index d5dd63a1e568..d369461c31e2 100644
--- a/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir.c
+++ b/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir.c
@@ -187,13 +187,18 @@ static int eq_iir_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	comp_dbg(dev, "eq_iir_prepare()");
 
+	/* EQ component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer */
+	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 	ret = eq_iir_prepare_sub(mod);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	/* EQ component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer */
-	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
-	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 	eq_iir_set_alignment(&sourceb->stream, &sinkb->stream);
 
 	/* get source and sink data format */
diff --git a/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir_ipc3.c b/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir_ipc3.c
index ca611bc8a819..8fe17f932cca 100644
--- a/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir_ipc3.c
+++ b/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir_ipc3.c
@@ -272,6 +272,8 @@ static int eq_iir_verify_params(struct comp_dev *dev,
 
 	comp_dbg(dev, "eq_iir_verify_params()");
 
+	/* The caller has verified, that sink and source buffers are connected */
+
 	/* EQ component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
diff --git a/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir_ipc4.c b/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir_ipc4.c
index 94e984e8a4ac..d5627d04bd8e 100644
--- a/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir_ipc4.c
+++ b/src/audio/eq_iir/eq_iir_ipc4.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ static int eq_iir_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 	struct comp_buffer *sinkb;
 	enum sof_ipc_frame valid_fmt, frame_fmt;
-	int i, ret;
+	int i;
 
 	comp_dbg(dev, "eq_iir_params()");
 	comp_params = *params;
@@ -124,9 +124,10 @@ static int eq_iir_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 		comp_params.chmap[i] = (mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt.ch_map >> i * 4) & 0xf;
 
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, comp_params.rate);
+
+	/* The caller has verified, that sink and source buffers are connected */
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
-	ret = buffer_set_params(sinkb, &comp_params, true);
-	return ret;
+	return buffer_set_params(sinkb, &comp_params, true);
 }
 
 void eq_iir_set_passthrough_func(struct comp_data *cd,
diff --git a/src/audio/google/google_ctc_audio_processing.c b/src/audio/google/google_ctc_audio_processing.c
index b78ee2514a87..463380e37f79 100644
--- a/src/audio/google/google_ctc_audio_processing.c
+++ b/src/audio/google/google_ctc_audio_processing.c
@@ -355,6 +355,11 @@ static int ctc_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	comp_info(mod->dev, "ctc_prepare()");
 
 	source = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	if (!source) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 	switch (audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&source->stream)) {
 #if CONFIG_FORMAT_S16LE
 	case SOF_IPC_FRAME_S16_LE:
diff --git a/src/audio/igo_nr/igo_nr.c b/src/audio/igo_nr/igo_nr.c
index f53124e71e6e..1cda1a57b857 100644
--- a/src/audio/igo_nr/igo_nr.c
+++ b/src/audio/igo_nr/igo_nr.c
@@ -818,6 +818,11 @@ static int32_t igo_nr_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	comp_dbg(dev, "igo_nr_prepare()");
 
+	if (!source || !sink) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 #if CONFIG_IPC_MAJOR_4
 	ret = igo_nr_ipc4_params(mod, source, sink);
 	if (ret) {
diff --git a/src/audio/mfcc/mfcc.c b/src/audio/mfcc/mfcc.c
index 11cae843829e..3eef92db3bab 100644
--- a/src/audio/mfcc/mfcc.c
+++ b/src/audio/mfcc/mfcc.c
@@ -193,6 +193,10 @@ static int mfcc_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	/* MFCC component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
 	/* get source data format */
 	source_format = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sourceb->stream);
diff --git a/src/audio/mixer/mixer.c b/src/audio/mixer/mixer.c
index f7583c8b4d1b..42d4c9e33fbc 100644
--- a/src/audio/mixer/mixer.c
+++ b/src/audio/mixer/mixer.c
@@ -214,6 +214,11 @@ static int mixer_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	struct comp_buffer *sink;
 
 	sink = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sink) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no sink");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 	md->mix_func = mixer_get_processing_function(dev, sink);
 	mixer_set_frame_alignment(&sink->stream);
 
diff --git a/src/audio/module_adapter/module/generic.c b/src/audio/module_adapter/module/generic.c
index 5f6dc96fe236..e15f823ccf2b 100644
--- a/src/audio/module_adapter/module/generic.c
+++ b/src/audio/module_adapter/module/generic.c
@@ -177,7 +177,6 @@ int module_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 		   struct sof_source **sources, int num_of_sources,
 		   struct sof_sink **sinks, int num_of_sinks)
 {
-	int ret = 0;
 	struct module_data *md = &mod->priv;
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 	const struct module_interface *const ops = dev->drv->adapter_ops;
@@ -191,7 +190,8 @@ int module_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 		return -EPERM;
 #endif
 	if (ops->prepare) {
-		ret = ops->prepare(mod, sources, num_of_sources, sinks, num_of_sinks);
+		int ret = ops->prepare(mod, sources, num_of_sources, sinks, num_of_sinks);
+
 		if (ret) {
 			comp_err(dev, "module_prepare() error %d: module specific prepare failed, comp_id %d",
 				 ret, dev_comp_id(dev));
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ int module_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 #endif
 	comp_dbg(dev, "module_prepare() done");
 
-	return ret;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 int module_process_legacy(struct processing_module *mod,
diff --git a/src/audio/module_adapter/module/waves/waves.c b/src/audio/module_adapter/module/waves/waves.c
index 5df71d159d8a..d384b2b15334 100644
--- a/src/audio/module_adapter/module/waves/waves.c
+++ b/src/audio/module_adapter/module/waves/waves.c
@@ -226,6 +226,11 @@ static int waves_effect_check(struct comp_dev *dev)
 	/* Init sink & source buffers */
 	comp_dbg(dev, "waves_effect_check() start");
 
+	if (!source || !sink) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 	/* todo use fallback to comp_verify_params when ready */
 
 	/* resampling not supported */
diff --git a/src/audio/module_adapter/module_adapter_ipc3.c b/src/audio/module_adapter/module_adapter_ipc3.c
index b54b0f41388e..3f64bd99971f 100644
--- a/src/audio/module_adapter/module_adapter_ipc3.c
+++ b/src/audio/module_adapter/module_adapter_ipc3.c
@@ -321,7 +321,6 @@ int module_adapter_sink_src_prepare(struct comp_dev *dev)
 	struct processing_module *mod = comp_mod(dev);
 	struct comp_buffer *sink_buffer;
 	struct comp_buffer *source_buffer;
-	int ret;
 	int i;
 
 	/* acquire all sink and source buffers, get handlers to sink/source API */
@@ -340,7 +339,6 @@ int module_adapter_sink_src_prepare(struct comp_dev *dev)
 	mod->num_of_sources = i;
 
 	/* Prepare module */
-	ret = module_prepare(mod, mod->sources, mod->num_of_sources, mod->sinks, mod->num_of_sinks);
-
-	return ret;
+	return module_prepare(mod, mod->sources, mod->num_of_sources, mod->sinks,
+			      mod->num_of_sinks);
 }
diff --git a/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c b/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
index 3787352f1fa3..45df154dfad6 100644
--- a/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
+++ b/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
@@ -378,6 +378,10 @@ static int multiband_drc_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	/* DRC component will only ever have 1 source and 1 sink buffer */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
 	/* get source data format */
 	cd->source_format = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sourceb->stream);
diff --git a/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc_ipc4.c b/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc_ipc4.c
index 1cb6ab7aea3c..03d7e6c5a074 100644
--- a/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc_ipc4.c
+++ b/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc_ipc4.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ int multiband_drc_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 	struct comp_buffer *sinkb;
 	enum sof_ipc_frame valid_fmt, frame_fmt;
-	int i, ret;
+	int i;
 
 	comp_dbg(dev, "multiband_drc_params()");
 
@@ -101,8 +101,11 @@ int multiband_drc_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, comp_params.rate);
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
-	ret = buffer_set_params(sinkb, &comp_params, true);
+	if (!sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return buffer_set_params(sinkb, &comp_params, true);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/audio/rtnr/rtnr.c b/src/audio/rtnr/rtnr.c
index 88c420a6af2a..3cb0cb484a8d 100644
--- a/src/audio/rtnr/rtnr.c
+++ b/src/audio/rtnr/rtnr.c
@@ -780,6 +780,8 @@ static void rtnr_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 	ipc4_base_module_cfg_to_stream_params(&mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg, params);
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, params->rate);
 
+	/* The caller has checked validity of source and sink buffers */
+
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	ipc4_update_buffer_format(sourceb, &mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt);
 
@@ -799,6 +801,13 @@ static int rtnr_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	comp_dbg(dev, "rtnr_prepare()");
 
+	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 #if CONFIG_IPC_MAJOR_4
 	rtnr_params(mod);
 #endif
@@ -813,10 +822,8 @@ static int rtnr_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	/* Initialize RTNR */
 
 	/* Get sink data format */
-	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 	cd->sink_format = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sinkb->stream);
 	cd->sink_stream.frame_fmt = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sinkb->stream);
-	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	ret = rtnr_check_params(mod, &sourceb->stream, &sinkb->stream);
 	if (ret)
 		goto err;
diff --git a/src/audio/selector/selector.c b/src/audio/selector/selector.c
index 6215caccd2a2..20ab3ff5b8c1 100644
--- a/src/audio/selector/selector.c
+++ b/src/audio/selector/selector.c
@@ -427,6 +427,10 @@ static int selector_prepare(struct comp_dev *dev)
 	/* selector component will have 1 source and 1 sink buffer */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
 	/* get source data format and period bytes */
 	cd->source_format = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sourceb->stream);
diff --git a/src/audio/smart_amp/smart_amp.c b/src/audio/smart_amp/smart_amp.c
index 6cb396a4c153..937fd20434b3 100644
--- a/src/audio/smart_amp/smart_amp.c
+++ b/src/audio/smart_amp/smart_amp.c
@@ -755,6 +755,10 @@ static int smart_amp_prepare(struct comp_dev *dev)
 
 	/* sink buffer */
 	sad->sink_buf = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sad->sink_buf) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
 	/* get frame format and channels param of stream and feedback source */
 	ff_src_fmt = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sad->source_buf->stream);
diff --git a/src/audio/tdfb/tdfb.c b/src/audio/tdfb/tdfb.c
index 0f3636fcfedd..b335b56ea47e 100644
--- a/src/audio/tdfb/tdfb.c
+++ b/src/audio/tdfb/tdfb.c
@@ -731,15 +731,20 @@ static int tdfb_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	comp_info(dev, "tdfb_prepare()");
 
+	/* Find source and sink buffers */
+	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
 	ret = tdfb_params(mod);
 	if (ret) {
 		comp_err(dev, "Failed tdfb_params()");
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	/* Find source and sink buffers */
-	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
-	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 	tdfb_set_alignment(&sourceb->stream, &sinkb->stream);
 
 	frame_fmt = audio_stream_get_frm_fmt(&sourceb->stream);
diff --git a/src/audio/tdfb/tdfb_ipc4.c b/src/audio/tdfb/tdfb_ipc4.c
index 176d9fa710b5..dd8ddec714c2 100644
--- a/src/audio/tdfb/tdfb_ipc4.c
+++ b/src/audio/tdfb/tdfb_ipc4.c
@@ -199,6 +199,8 @@ int tdfb_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 
 	ipc4_base_module_cfg_to_stream_params(&mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg, params);
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, params->rate);
+
+	/* The caller has verified source and sink buffer validity */
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
 	ipc4_update_buffer_format(sourceb, &mod->priv.cfg.input_pins[0].audio_fmt);
 
diff --git a/src/audio/tone.c b/src/audio/tone.c
index 05389a3f4b1b..2cc3a82d8fcb 100644
--- a/src/audio/tone.c
+++ b/src/audio/tone.c
@@ -429,8 +429,11 @@ static int tone_params(struct comp_dev *dev,
 	struct comp_buffer *sourceb, *sinkb;
 
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
-
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
 	comp_info(dev, "tone_params(), config->frame_fmt = %u",
 		  dev->ipc_config.frame_fmt);
@@ -671,6 +674,10 @@ static int tone_prepare(struct comp_dev *dev)
 		return PPL_STATUS_PATH_STOP;
 
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
 	cd->channels = audio_stream_get_channels(&sourceb->stream);
 	comp_info(dev, "tone_prepare(), cd->channels = %u, cd->rate = %u",
diff --git a/src/audio/volume/volume.c b/src/audio/volume/volume.c
index c6cea52135bc..4b168b7fa1c0 100644
--- a/src/audio/volume/volume.c
+++ b/src/audio/volume/volume.c
@@ -673,11 +673,15 @@ static int volume_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 
 	comp_dbg(dev, "volume_prepare()");
 
-	ret = volume_peak_prepare(cd, mod);
-
 	/* volume component will only ever have 1 sink and source buffer */
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 	sourceb = comp_dev_get_first_data_producer(dev);
+	if (!sourceb || !sinkb) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no source or sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
+
+	ret = volume_peak_prepare(cd, mod);
 
 	volume_set_alignment(&sourceb->stream, &sinkb->stream);
 
diff --git a/src/audio/volume/volume_ipc4.c b/src/audio/volume/volume_ipc4.c
index 3abc62bfab50..2424cbb13a76 100644
--- a/src/audio/volume/volume_ipc4.c
+++ b/src/audio/volume/volume_ipc4.c
@@ -419,7 +419,10 @@ static int volume_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 
 	component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, params->rate);
 
-	/* volume component will only ever have 1 sink buffer */
+	/*
+	 * volume component will only ever have 1 sink buffer, the caller has
+	 * verified their validity
+	 */
 	sinkb = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
 	ipc4_update_buffer_format(sinkb, &mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt);
 
diff --git a/src/ipc/ipc-helper.c b/src/ipc/ipc-helper.c
index 65910767d95e..c6666581e5d4 100644
--- a/src/ipc/ipc-helper.c
+++ b/src/ipc/ipc-helper.c
@@ -156,6 +156,14 @@ int comp_verify_params(struct comp_dev *dev, uint32_t flag,
 
 		/* set component period frames */
 		component_set_nearest_period_frames(dev, audio_stream_get_rate(&buf->stream));
+	} else if (list_is_empty(source_list)) {
+		/*
+		 * both lists are empty, e.g. if it's the single component in a
+		 * pipeline and no other pipelines are currently connected, then
+		 * there's just nothing to update
+		 */
+		comp_dbg(dev, "no connected buffers");
+		return 0;
 	} else {
 		/* for other components we iterate over all downstream buffers
 		 * (for playback) or upstream buffers (for capture).
diff --git a/src/samples/audio/smart_amp_test_ipc3.c b/src/samples/audio/smart_amp_test_ipc3.c
index 289b8a36e126..f02f6c5d9db7 100644
--- a/src/samples/audio/smart_amp_test_ipc3.c
+++ b/src/samples/audio/smart_amp_test_ipc3.c
@@ -509,6 +509,10 @@ static int smart_amp_prepare(struct comp_dev *dev)
 	}
 
 	sad->sink_buf = comp_dev_get_first_data_consumer(dev);
+	if (!sad->sink_buf) {
+		comp_err(dev, "no sink buffer");
+		return -ENOTCONN;
+	}
 
 	sad->out_channels = audio_stream_get_channels(&sad->sink_buf->stream);