diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
index e1750bdbe51f..3caea6d58c9a 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
@@ -1364,16 +1364,20 @@ static int try_assign_dacs(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_outs,
 		struct nid_path *path;
 		hda_nid_t pin = pins[i];
 
-		path = snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec, path_idx[i]);
-		if (path) {
-			badness += assign_out_path_ctls(codec, path);
-			continue;
+		if (!spec->obey_preferred_dacs) {
+			path = snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec, path_idx[i]);
+			if (path) {
+				badness += assign_out_path_ctls(codec, path);
+				continue;
+			}
 		}
 
 		dacs[i] = get_preferred_dac(codec, pin);
 		if (dacs[i]) {
 			if (is_dac_already_used(codec, dacs[i]))
 				badness += bad->shared_primary;
+		} else if (spec->obey_preferred_dacs) {
+			badness += BAD_NO_PRIMARY_DAC;
 		}
 
 		if (!dacs[i])
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
index fb9f1a90238b..e728df6145ad 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ struct hda_gen_spec {
 	unsigned int power_down_unused:1; /* power down unused widgets */
 	unsigned int dac_min_mute:1; /* minimal = mute for DACs */
 	unsigned int suppress_vmaster:1; /* don't create vmaster kctls */
+	unsigned int obey_preferred_dacs:1; /* obey preferred_dacs assignment */
 
 	/* other internal flags */
 	unsigned int no_analog:1; /* digital I/O only */