diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/core.c b/sound/soc/sof/core.c
index 9a9d82220fd0..30db685cc5f4 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/core.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/core.c
@@ -504,8 +504,10 @@ int snd_sof_device_shutdown(struct device *dev)
 	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SND_SOC_SOF_PROBE_WORK_QUEUE))
 		cancel_work_sync(&sdev->probe_work);
 
-	if (sdev->fw_state == SOF_FW_BOOT_COMPLETE)
+	if (sdev->fw_state == SOF_FW_BOOT_COMPLETE) {
+		sof_fw_trace_free(sdev);
 		return snd_sof_shutdown(sdev);
+	}
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/intel/mtl.c b/sound/soc/sof/intel/mtl.c
index 8ae331faca4e..30fe77fd87bf 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/intel/mtl.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/intel/mtl.c
@@ -361,11 +361,17 @@ static int mtl_dsp_core_power_up(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, int core)
 	ret = snd_sof_dsp_read_poll_timeout(sdev, HDA_DSP_BAR, MTL_DSP2CXCTL_PRIMARY_CORE, dspcxctl,
 					    (dspcxctl & cpa) == cpa, HDA_DSP_REG_POLL_INTERVAL_US,
 					    HDA_DSP_RESET_TIMEOUT_US);
-	if (ret < 0)
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		dev_err(sdev->dev, "%s: timeout on MTL_DSP2CXCTL_PRIMARY_CORE read\n",
 			__func__);
+		return ret;
+	}
 
-	return ret;
+	/* set primary core mask and refcount to 1 */
+	sdev->enabled_cores_mask = BIT(SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE);
+	sdev->dsp_core_ref_count[SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE] = 1;
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int mtl_dsp_core_power_down(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, int core)
@@ -388,10 +394,15 @@ static int mtl_dsp_core_power_down(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, int core)
 					    !(dspcxctl & MTL_DSP2CXCTL_PRIMARY_CORE_CPA_MASK),
 					    HDA_DSP_REG_POLL_INTERVAL_US,
 					    HDA_DSP_PD_TIMEOUT * USEC_PER_MSEC);
-	if (ret < 0)
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		dev_err(sdev->dev, "failed to power down primary core\n");
+		return ret;
+	}
 
-	return ret;
+	sdev->enabled_cores_mask = 0;
+	sdev->dsp_core_ref_count[SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE] = 0;
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 int mtl_power_down_dsp(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/ipc3.c b/sound/soc/sof/ipc3.c
index ec1ac0fb2d9f..2c5aac31e8b0 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/ipc3.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/ipc3.c
@@ -223,6 +223,14 @@ static inline void ipc3_log_header(struct device *dev, u8 *text, u32 cmd)
 }
 #endif
 
+static void sof_ipc3_dump_payload(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
+				  void *ipc_data, size_t size)
+{
+	printk(KERN_DEBUG "Size of payload following the header: %zu\n", size);
+	print_hex_dump_debug("Message payload: ", DUMP_PREFIX_OFFSET,
+			     16, 4, ipc_data, size, false);
+}
+
 static int sof_ipc3_get_reply(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 {
 	struct snd_sof_ipc_msg *msg = sdev->msg;
@@ -374,6 +382,29 @@ static int sof_ipc3_tx_msg(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, void *msg_data, size_t msg_
 
 	ret = ipc3_tx_msg_unlocked(ipc, msg_data, msg_bytes, reply_data, reply_bytes);
 
+	if (sof_debug_check_flag(SOF_DBG_DUMP_IPC_MESSAGE_PAYLOAD)) {
+		size_t payload_bytes, header_bytes;
+		char *payload = NULL;
+
+		/* payload is indicated by non zero msg/reply_bytes */
+		if (msg_bytes > sizeof(struct sof_ipc_cmd_hdr)) {
+			payload = msg_data;
+
+			header_bytes = sizeof(struct sof_ipc_cmd_hdr);
+			payload_bytes = msg_bytes - header_bytes;
+		} else if (reply_bytes > sizeof(struct sof_ipc_reply)) {
+			payload = reply_data;
+
+			header_bytes = sizeof(struct sof_ipc_reply);
+			payload_bytes = reply_bytes - header_bytes;
+		}
+
+		if (payload) {
+			payload += header_bytes;
+			sof_ipc3_dump_payload(sdev, payload, payload_bytes);
+		}
+	}
+
 	mutex_unlock(&ipc->tx_mutex);
 
 	return ret;
@@ -472,6 +503,14 @@ static int sof_ipc3_set_get_data(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, void *data, size_t da
 		offset += payload_size;
 	}
 
+	if (sof_debug_check_flag(SOF_DBG_DUMP_IPC_MESSAGE_PAYLOAD)) {
+		size_t header_bytes = sizeof(struct sof_ipc_reply);
+		char *payload = (char *)cdata;
+
+		payload += header_bytes;
+		sof_ipc3_dump_payload(sdev, payload, data_bytes - header_bytes);
+	}
+
 	mutex_unlock(&sdev->ipc->tx_mutex);
 
 	kfree(cdata_chunk);
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/ipc4.c b/sound/soc/sof/ipc4.c
index 246b56d24a6f..ab6eddd91bb7 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/ipc4.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/ipc4.c
@@ -17,15 +17,6 @@
 #include "ipc4-priv.h"
 #include "ops.h"
 
-#ifdef DEBUG_VERBOSE
-#define sof_ipc4_dump_payload(sdev, ipc_data, size)			\
-		print_hex_dump_debug("Message payload: ",		\
-				     DUMP_PREFIX_OFFSET,		\
-				     16, 4, ipc_data, size, false)
-#else
-#define sof_ipc4_dump_payload(sdev, ipc_data, size)	do { } while (0)
-#endif
-
 static const struct sof_ipc4_fw_status {
 	int status;
 	char *msg;
@@ -256,6 +247,13 @@ static void sof_ipc4_log_header(struct device *dev, u8 *text, struct sof_ipc4_ms
 }
 #endif
 
+static void sof_ipc4_dump_payload(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
+				  void *ipc_data, size_t size)
+{
+	print_hex_dump_debug("Message payload: ", DUMP_PREFIX_OFFSET,
+			     16, 4, ipc_data, size, false);
+}
+
 static int sof_ipc4_get_reply(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 {
 	struct snd_sof_ipc_msg *msg = sdev->msg;
@@ -362,9 +360,6 @@ static int sof_ipc4_tx_msg(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, void *msg_data, size_t msg_
 			   void *reply_data, size_t reply_bytes, bool no_pm)
 {
 	struct snd_sof_ipc *ipc = sdev->ipc;
-#ifdef DEBUG_VERBOSE
-	struct sof_ipc4_msg *msg = NULL;
-#endif
 	int ret;
 
 	if (!msg_data)
@@ -386,19 +381,21 @@ static int sof_ipc4_tx_msg(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, void *msg_data, size_t msg_
 
 	ret = ipc4_tx_msg_unlocked(ipc, msg_data, msg_bytes, reply_data, reply_bytes);
 
+	if (sof_debug_check_flag(SOF_DBG_DUMP_IPC_MESSAGE_PAYLOAD)) {
+		struct sof_ipc4_msg *msg = NULL;
+
+		/* payload is indicated by non zero msg/reply_bytes */
+		if (msg_bytes)
+			msg = msg_data;
+		else if (reply_bytes)
+			msg = reply_data;
+
+		if (msg)
+			sof_ipc4_dump_payload(sdev, msg->data_ptr, msg->data_size);
+	}
+
 	mutex_unlock(&ipc->tx_mutex);
 
-#ifdef DEBUG_VERBOSE
-	/* payload is indicated by non zero msg/reply_bytes */
-	if (msg_bytes)
-		msg = msg_data;
-	else if (reply_bytes)
-		msg = reply_data;
-
-	if (msg)
-		sof_ipc4_dump_payload(sdev, msg->data_ptr, msg->data_size);
-#endif
-
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -516,7 +513,8 @@ static int sof_ipc4_set_get_data(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, void *data,
 	if (!set && payload_bytes != offset)
 		ipc4_msg->data_size = offset;
 
-	sof_ipc4_dump_payload(sdev, ipc4_msg->data_ptr, ipc4_msg->data_size);
+	if (sof_debug_check_flag(SOF_DBG_DUMP_IPC_MESSAGE_PAYLOAD))
+		sof_ipc4_dump_payload(sdev, ipc4_msg->data_ptr, ipc4_msg->data_size);
 
 out:
 	mutex_unlock(&sdev->ipc->tx_mutex);
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/pm.c b/sound/soc/sof/pm.c
index 2b232442e84b..704b21413c71 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/pm.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/pm.c
@@ -234,20 +234,16 @@ static int sof_suspend(struct device *dev, bool runtime_suspend)
 
 	pm_state.event = target_state;
 
-	/* Skip to platform-specific suspend if DSP is entering D0 */
-	if (target_state == SOF_DSP_PM_D0) {
-		sof_fw_trace_suspend(sdev, pm_state);
-		/* Notify clients not managed by pm framework about core suspend */
-		sof_suspend_clients(sdev, pm_state);
-		goto suspend;
-	}
-
 	/* suspend DMA trace */
 	sof_fw_trace_suspend(sdev, pm_state);
 
 	/* Notify clients not managed by pm framework about core suspend */
 	sof_suspend_clients(sdev, pm_state);
 
+	/* Skip to platform-specific suspend if DSP is entering D0 */
+	if (target_state == SOF_DSP_PM_D0)
+		goto suspend;
+
 #if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SND_SOC_SOF_DEBUG_ENABLE_DEBUGFS_CACHE)
 	/* cache debugfs contents during runtime suspend */
 	if (runtime_suspend)
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/sof-audio.c b/sound/soc/sof/sof-audio.c
index 1cbda595c518..e7ef77012c35 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/sof-audio.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/sof-audio.c
@@ -14,6 +14,20 @@
 #include "sof-of-dev.h"
 #include "ops.h"
 
+static bool is_virtual_widget(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_soc_dapm_widget *widget,
+			      const char *func)
+{
+	switch (widget->id) {
+	case snd_soc_dapm_out_drv:
+	case snd_soc_dapm_output:
+	case snd_soc_dapm_input:
+		dev_dbg(sdev->dev, "%s: %s is a virtual widget\n", func, widget->name);
+		return true;
+	default:
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
 static void sof_reset_route_setup_status(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_sof_widget *widget)
 {
 	const struct sof_ipc_tplg_ops *tplg_ops = sof_ipc_get_ops(sdev, tplg);
@@ -231,23 +245,9 @@ int sof_route_setup(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_soc_dapm_widget *wsourc
 	bool route_found = false;
 
 	/* ignore routes involving virtual widgets in topology */
-	switch (src_widget->id) {
-	case snd_soc_dapm_out_drv:
-	case snd_soc_dapm_output:
-	case snd_soc_dapm_input:
+	if (is_virtual_widget(sdev, src_widget->widget, __func__) ||
+	    is_virtual_widget(sdev, sink_widget->widget, __func__))
 		return 0;
-	default:
-		break;
-	}
-
-	switch (sink_widget->id) {
-	case snd_soc_dapm_out_drv:
-	case snd_soc_dapm_output:
-	case snd_soc_dapm_input:
-		return 0;
-	default:
-		break;
-	}
 
 	/* find route matching source and sink widgets */
 	list_for_each_entry(sroute, &sdev->route_list, list)
@@ -396,6 +396,9 @@ sof_unprepare_widgets_in_path(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_soc_dapm_widg
 	const struct sof_ipc_tplg_widget_ops *widget_ops;
 	struct snd_soc_dapm_path *p;
 
+	if (is_virtual_widget(sdev, widget, __func__))
+		return;
+
 	/* skip if the widget is in use or if it is already unprepared */
 	if (!swidget || !swidget->prepared || swidget->use_count > 0)
 		goto sink_unprepare;
@@ -433,6 +436,9 @@ sof_prepare_widgets_in_path(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_soc_dapm_widget
 	struct snd_soc_dapm_path *p;
 	int ret;
 
+	if (is_virtual_widget(sdev, widget, __func__))
+		return 0;
+
 	widget_ops = tplg_ops ? tplg_ops->widget : NULL;
 	if (!widget_ops)
 		return 0;
@@ -488,6 +494,9 @@ static int sof_free_widgets_in_path(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_soc_dap
 	int err;
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	if (is_virtual_widget(sdev, widget, __func__))
+		return 0;
+
 	if (widget->dobj.private) {
 		err = sof_widget_free(sdev, widget->dobj.private);
 		if (err < 0)
@@ -527,6 +536,9 @@ static int sof_set_up_widgets_in_path(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_soc_d
 	struct snd_soc_dapm_path *p;
 	int ret;
 
+	if (is_virtual_widget(sdev, widget, __func__))
+		return 0;
+
 	if (swidget) {
 		int i;
 
@@ -592,6 +604,9 @@ sof_walk_widgets_in_order(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev, struct snd_sof_pcm *spcm,
 		return 0;
 
 	for_each_dapm_widgets(list, i, widget) {
+		if (is_virtual_widget(sdev, widget, __func__))
+			continue;
+
 		/* starting widget for playback is AIF type */
 		if (dir == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK && widget->id != snd_soc_dapm_aif_in)
 			continue;
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h b/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
index cd4f6ac126ec..d4f6702e93dc 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ struct snd_sof_pcm_stream;
 #define SOF_DBG_FORCE_NOCODEC			BIT(10) /* ignore all codec-related
 							 * configurations
 							 */
+#define SOF_DBG_DUMP_IPC_MESSAGE_PAYLOAD	BIT(11) /* On top of the IPC message header
+							 * dump the message payload also
+							 */
 #define SOF_DBG_DSPLESS_MODE			BIT(15) /* Do not initialize and use the DSP */
 
 /* Flag definitions used for controlling the DSP dump behavior */