diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/intel/hda-dai.c b/sound/soc/sof/intel/hda-dai.c
index e1decf25aeace3..c270fd7a08784c 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/intel/hda-dai.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/intel/hda-dai.c
@@ -30,62 +30,84 @@ struct hda_pipe_params {
 };
 
 /*
- * Unlike GP dma, there is a set of stream registers in hda controller
- * to control the link dma channels. Each register controls one link
- * dma channel and the relation is fixed. To make sure FW uses correct
- * link dma channels, host allocates stream registers and sends the
- * corresponding link dma channels to FW to allocate link dma channel
- *
- * FIXME: this API is abused in the sense that tx_num and rx_num are
- * passed as arguments, not returned. We need to find a better way to
- * retrieve the stream tag allocated for the link DMA
+ * This function checks if the host dma channel corresponding
+ * to the link DMA stream_tag argument is assigned to one
+ * of the FEs connected to the BE DAI.
  */
-static int hda_link_dma_get_channels(struct snd_soc_dai *dai,
-				     unsigned int *tx_num,
-				     unsigned int *tx_slot,
-				     unsigned int *rx_num,
-				     unsigned int *rx_slot)
+static bool hda_check_fes(struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd,
+			  int dir, int stream_tag)
 {
-	struct hdac_bus *bus;
-	struct hdac_ext_stream *stream;
-	struct snd_pcm_substream substream;
-	struct snd_sof_dev *sdev =
-		snd_soc_component_get_drvdata(dai->component);
-
-	bus = sof_to_bus(sdev);
-
-	memset(&substream, 0, sizeof(substream));
-	if (*tx_num == 1) {
-		substream.stream = SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK;
-		stream = snd_hdac_ext_stream_assign(bus, &substream,
-						    HDAC_EXT_STREAM_TYPE_LINK);
-		if (!stream) {
-			dev_err(bus->dev, "error: failed to find a free hda ext stream for playback");
-			return -EBUSY;
-		}
+	struct snd_pcm_substream *fe_substream;
+	struct hdac_stream *fe_hstream;
+	struct snd_soc_dpcm *dpcm;
+
+	for_each_dpcm_fe(rtd, dir, dpcm) {
+		fe_substream = snd_soc_dpcm_get_substream(dpcm->fe, dir);
+		fe_hstream = fe_substream->runtime->private_data;
+		if (fe_hstream->stream_tag == stream_tag)
+			return true;
+	}
 
-		snd_soc_dai_set_dma_data(dai, &substream, stream);
-		*tx_slot = hdac_stream(stream)->stream_tag - 1;
+	return false;
+}
+
+static struct hdac_ext_stream *
+	hda_link_stream_assign(struct hdac_bus *bus,
+			       struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)
+{
+	struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd = substream->private_data;
+	struct sof_intel_hda_stream *hda_stream;
+	struct hdac_ext_stream *res = NULL;
+	struct hdac_stream *stream = NULL;
 
-		dev_dbg(bus->dev, "link dma channel %d for playback", *tx_slot);
+	int stream_dir = substream->stream;
+
+	if (!bus->ppcap) {
+		dev_err(bus->dev, "stream type not supported\n");
+		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	if (*rx_num == 1) {
-		substream.stream = SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE;
-		stream = snd_hdac_ext_stream_assign(bus, &substream,
-						    HDAC_EXT_STREAM_TYPE_LINK);
-		if (!stream) {
-			dev_err(bus->dev, "error: failed to find a free hda ext stream for capture");
-			return -EBUSY;
+	list_for_each_entry(stream, &bus->stream_list, list) {
+		struct hdac_ext_stream *hstream =
+			stream_to_hdac_ext_stream(stream);
+		if (stream->direction != substream->stream)
+			continue;
+
+		hda_stream = hstream_to_sof_hda_stream(hstream);
+
+		/* check if available */
+		if (!hstream->link_locked) {
+			if (stream->opened) {
+				/*
+				 * check if the stream tag matches the stream
+				 * tag of one of the connected FEs
+				 */
+				if (hda_check_fes(rtd, stream_dir,
+						  stream->stream_tag)) {
+					res = hstream;
+					break;
+				}
+			} else {
+				res = hstream;
+				break;
+			}
 		}
+	}
 
-		snd_soc_dai_set_dma_data(dai, &substream, stream);
-		*rx_slot = hdac_stream(stream)->stream_tag - 1;
-
-		dev_dbg(bus->dev, "link dma channel %d for capture", *rx_slot);
+	if (res) {
+		/*
+		 * Decouple host and link DMA. The decoupled flag
+		 * is updated in snd_hdac_ext_stream_decouple().
+		 */
+		if (!res->decoupled)
+			snd_hdac_ext_stream_decouple(bus, res, true);
+		spin_lock_irq(&bus->reg_lock);
+		res->link_locked = 1;
+		res->link_substream = substream;
+		spin_unlock_irq(&bus->reg_lock);
 	}
 
-	return 0;
+	return res;
 }
 
 static int hda_link_dma_params(struct hdac_ext_stream *stream,
@@ -122,6 +144,51 @@ static int hda_link_dma_params(struct hdac_ext_stream *stream,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/* Send DAI_CONFIG IPC to the DAI that matches the dai_name and direction */
+static int hda_link_config_ipc(struct sof_intel_hda_stream *hda_stream,
+			       const char *dai_name, int channel, int dir)
+{
+	struct sof_ipc_dai_config *config;
+	struct snd_sof_dai *sof_dai;
+	struct sof_ipc_reply reply;
+	int ret = 0;
+
+	list_for_each_entry(sof_dai, &hda_stream->sdev->dai_list, list) {
+		if (!sof_dai->cpu_dai_name)
+			continue;
+
+		if (!strcmp(dai_name, sof_dai->cpu_dai_name) &&
+		    dir == sof_dai->comp_dai.direction) {
+			config = sof_dai->dai_config;
+
+			if (!config) {
+				dev_err(hda_stream->sdev->dev,
+					"error: no config for DAI %s\n",
+					sof_dai->name);
+				return -EINVAL;
+			}
+
+			/* update config with stream tag */
+			config->hda.link_dma_ch = channel;
+
+			/* send IPC */
+			ret = sof_ipc_tx_message(hda_stream->sdev->ipc,
+						 config->hdr.cmd,
+						 config,
+						 config->hdr.size,
+						 &reply, sizeof(reply));
+
+			if (ret < 0)
+				dev_err(hda_stream->sdev->dev,
+					"error: failed to set dai config for %s\n",
+					sof_dai->name);
+			return ret;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return -EINVAL;
+}
+
 static int hda_link_hw_params(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 			      struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params,
 			      struct snd_soc_dai *dai)
@@ -135,20 +202,31 @@ static int hda_link_hw_params(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 	struct hda_pipe_params p_params = {0};
 	struct hdac_ext_link *link;
 	int stream_tag;
+	int ret;
 
-	link_dev = snd_soc_dai_get_dma_data(dai, substream);
+	link_dev = hda_link_stream_assign(bus, substream);
+	if (!link_dev)
+		return -EBUSY;
+
+	stream_tag = hdac_stream(link_dev)->stream_tag;
+
+	hda_stream = hstream_to_sof_hda_stream(link_dev);
+
+	/* update the DSP with the new tag */
+	ret = hda_link_config_ipc(hda_stream, dai->name, stream_tag - 1,
+				  substream->stream);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
+
+	snd_soc_dai_set_dma_data(dai, substream, (void *)link_dev);
 
-	hda_stream = container_of(link_dev, struct sof_intel_hda_stream,
-				  hda_stream);
 	hda_stream->hw_params_upon_resume = 0;
 
 	link = snd_hdac_ext_bus_get_link(bus, codec_dai->component->name);
 	if (!link)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	stream_tag = hdac_stream(link_dev)->stream_tag;
-
-	/* set the stream tag in the codec dai dma params  */
+	/* set the stream tag in the codec dai dma params */
 	if (substream->stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK)
 		snd_soc_dai_set_tdm_slot(codec_dai, stream_tag, 0, 0, 0);
 	else
@@ -181,8 +259,7 @@ static int hda_link_pcm_prepare(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 	struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd = snd_pcm_substream_chip(substream);
 	int stream = substream->stream;
 
-	hda_stream = container_of(link_dev, struct sof_intel_hda_stream,
-				  hda_stream);
+	hda_stream = hstream_to_sof_hda_stream(link_dev);
 
 	/* setup hw_params again only if resuming from system suspend */
 	if (!hda_stream->hw_params_upon_resume)
@@ -199,8 +276,24 @@ static int hda_link_pcm_trigger(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 {
 	struct hdac_ext_stream *link_dev =
 				snd_soc_dai_get_dma_data(dai, substream);
+	struct sof_intel_hda_stream *hda_stream;
+	struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd;
+	struct hdac_ext_link *link;
+	struct hdac_stream *hstream;
+	struct hdac_bus *bus;
+	int stream_tag;
 	int ret;
 
+	hstream = substream->runtime->private_data;
+	bus = hstream->bus;
+	rtd = snd_pcm_substream_chip(substream);
+
+	link = snd_hdac_ext_bus_get_link(bus, rtd->codec_dai->component->name);
+	if (!link)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	hda_stream = hstream_to_sof_hda_stream(link_dev);
+
 	dev_dbg(dai->dev, "In %s cmd=%d\n", __func__, cmd);
 	switch (cmd) {
 	case SNDRV_PCM_TRIGGER_RESUME:
@@ -217,8 +310,22 @@ static int hda_link_pcm_trigger(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 	case SNDRV_PCM_TRIGGER_PAUSE_RELEASE:
 		snd_hdac_ext_link_stream_start(link_dev);
 		break;
-	case SNDRV_PCM_TRIGGER_PAUSE_PUSH:
 	case SNDRV_PCM_TRIGGER_SUSPEND:
+		/*
+		 * clear and release link DMA channel. It will be assigned when
+		 * hw_params is set up again after resume.
+		 */
+		ret = hda_link_config_ipc(hda_stream, dai->name,
+					  DMA_CHAN_INVALID, substream->stream);
+		if (ret < 0)
+			return ret;
+		stream_tag = hdac_stream(link_dev)->stream_tag;
+		snd_hdac_ext_link_clear_stream_id(link, stream_tag);
+		snd_hdac_ext_stream_release(link_dev,
+					    HDAC_EXT_STREAM_TYPE_LINK);
+
+		/* fallthrough */
+	case SNDRV_PCM_TRIGGER_PAUSE_PUSH:
 	case SNDRV_PCM_TRIGGER_STOP:
 		snd_hdac_ext_link_stream_clear(link_dev);
 		break;
@@ -228,62 +335,38 @@ static int hda_link_pcm_trigger(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/*
- * FIXME: This API is also abused since it's used for two purposes.
- * when the substream argument is NULL this function is used for cleanups
- * that aren't necessarily required, and called explicitly by handling
- * ASoC core structures, which is not recommended.
- * This part will be reworked in follow-up patches.
- */
 static int hda_link_hw_free(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 			    struct snd_soc_dai *dai)
 {
-	const char *name;
 	unsigned int stream_tag;
+	struct sof_intel_hda_stream *hda_stream;
 	struct hdac_bus *bus;
 	struct hdac_ext_link *link;
 	struct hdac_stream *hstream;
-	struct hdac_ext_stream *stream;
 	struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd;
 	struct hdac_ext_stream *link_dev;
-	struct snd_pcm_substream pcm_substream;
-
-	memset(&pcm_substream, 0, sizeof(pcm_substream));
-	if (substream) {
-		hstream = substream->runtime->private_data;
-		bus = hstream->bus;
-		rtd = snd_pcm_substream_chip(substream);
-		link_dev = snd_soc_dai_get_dma_data(dai, substream);
-		snd_hdac_ext_stream_decouple(bus, link_dev, false);
-		name = rtd->codec_dai->component->name;
-		link = snd_hdac_ext_bus_get_link(bus, name);
-		if (!link)
-			return -EINVAL;
-
-		if (substream->stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK) {
-			stream_tag = hdac_stream(link_dev)->stream_tag;
-			snd_hdac_ext_link_clear_stream_id(link, stream_tag);
-		}
+	int ret;
 
-		link_dev->link_prepared = 0;
-	} else {
-		/* release all hda streams when dai link is unloaded */
-		pcm_substream.stream = SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK;
-		stream = snd_soc_dai_get_dma_data(dai, &pcm_substream);
-		if (stream) {
-			snd_soc_dai_set_dma_data(dai, &pcm_substream, NULL);
-			snd_hdac_ext_stream_release(stream,
-						    HDAC_EXT_STREAM_TYPE_LINK);
-		}
+	hstream = substream->runtime->private_data;
+	bus = hstream->bus;
+	rtd = snd_pcm_substream_chip(substream);
+	link_dev = snd_soc_dai_get_dma_data(dai, substream);
+	hda_stream = hstream_to_sof_hda_stream(link_dev);
 
-		pcm_substream.stream = SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE;
-		stream = snd_soc_dai_get_dma_data(dai, &pcm_substream);
-		if (stream) {
-			snd_soc_dai_set_dma_data(dai, &pcm_substream, NULL);
-			snd_hdac_ext_stream_release(stream,
-						    HDAC_EXT_STREAM_TYPE_LINK);
-		}
-	}
+	/* free the link DMA channel in the FW */
+	ret = hda_link_config_ipc(hda_stream, dai->name, DMA_CHAN_INVALID,
+				  substream->stream);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
+
+	link = snd_hdac_ext_bus_get_link(bus, rtd->codec_dai->component->name);
+	if (!link)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	stream_tag = hdac_stream(link_dev)->stream_tag;
+	snd_hdac_ext_link_clear_stream_id(link, stream_tag);
+	snd_hdac_ext_stream_release(link_dev, HDAC_EXT_STREAM_TYPE_LINK);
+	link_dev->link_prepared = 0;
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -293,7 +376,6 @@ static const struct snd_soc_dai_ops hda_link_dai_ops = {
 	.hw_free = hda_link_hw_free,
 	.trigger = hda_link_pcm_trigger,
 	.prepare = hda_link_pcm_prepare,
-	.get_channel_map = hda_link_dma_get_channels,
 };
 #endif
 
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h b/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
index ba6556ecc8bab3..0ef8d88db00682 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@
 	(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SND_SOC_SOF_DEBUG_ENABLE_DEBUGFS_CACHE) || \
 	 IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SND_SOC_SOF_DEBUG_IPC_FLOOD_TEST))
 
+#define DMA_CHAN_INVALID	0xFFFFFFFF
+
 struct snd_sof_dev;
 struct snd_sof_ipc_msg;
 struct snd_sof_ipc;
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/topology.c b/sound/soc/sof/topology.c
index b1bc186d4e9066..51eb500b5d00d4 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/topology.c
@@ -2573,9 +2573,7 @@ static int sof_link_dmic_load(struct snd_soc_component *scomp, int index,
  */
 static int sof_link_hda_process(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
 				struct snd_soc_dai_link *link,
-				struct sof_ipc_dai_config *config,
-				int tx_slot,
-				int rx_slot)
+				struct sof_ipc_dai_config *config)
 {
 	struct sof_ipc_reply reply;
 	u32 size = sizeof(*config);
@@ -2588,22 +2586,11 @@ static int sof_link_hda_process(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
 			continue;
 
 		if (strcmp(link->name, sof_dai->name) == 0) {
-			if (sof_dai->comp_dai.direction ==
-			    SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK) {
-				if (!link->dpcm_playback)
-					return -EINVAL;
-
-				config->hda.link_dma_ch = tx_slot;
-			} else {
-				if (!link->dpcm_capture)
-					return -EINVAL;
-
-				config->hda.link_dma_ch = rx_slot;
-			}
-
 			config->dai_index = sof_dai->comp_dai.dai_index;
 			found = 1;
 
+			config->hda.link_dma_ch = DMA_CHAN_INVALID;
+
 			/* save config in dai component */
 			sof_dai->dai_config = kmemdup(config, size, GFP_KERNEL);
 			if (!sof_dai->dai_config)
@@ -2650,10 +2637,6 @@ static int sof_link_hda_load(struct snd_soc_component *scomp, int index,
 	struct snd_soc_tplg_private *private = &cfg->priv;
 	struct snd_soc_dai *dai;
 	u32 size = sizeof(*config);
-	u32 tx_num = 0;
-	u32 tx_slot = 0;
-	u32 rx_num = 0;
-	u32 rx_slot = 0;
 	int ret;
 
 	/* init IPC */
@@ -2679,22 +2662,7 @@ static int sof_link_hda_load(struct snd_soc_component *scomp, int index,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	if (link->dpcm_playback)
-		tx_num = 1;
-
-	if (link->dpcm_capture)
-		rx_num = 1;
-
-	ret = snd_soc_dai_get_channel_map(dai, &tx_num, &tx_slot,
-					  &rx_num, &rx_slot);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		dev_err(sdev->dev, "error: failed to get dma channel for HDA%d\n",
-			config->dai_index);
-
-		return ret;
-	}
-
-	ret = sof_link_hda_process(sdev, link, config, tx_slot, rx_slot);
+	ret = sof_link_hda_process(sdev, link, config);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		dev_err(sdev->dev, "error: failed to process hda dai link %s",
 			link->name);
@@ -2821,17 +2789,6 @@ static int sof_link_hda_unload(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * FIXME: this call to hw_free is mainly to release the link DMA ID.
-	 * This is abusing the API and handling SOC internals is not
-	 * recommended. This part will be reworked.
-	 */
-	if (dai->driver->ops->hw_free)
-		ret = dai->driver->ops->hw_free(NULL, dai);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		dev_err(sdev->dev, "error: failed to free hda resource for %s\n",
-			link->name);
-
 	return ret;
 }