diff --git a/include/pcm_extplug.h b/include/pcm_extplug.h
index ced934f2..e5c02d4d 100644
--- a/include/pcm_extplug.h
+++ b/include/pcm_extplug.h
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@ int snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_list(snd_pcm_extplug_t *extplug, int type, unsigne
 int snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_minmax(snd_pcm_extplug_t *extplug, int type, unsigned int min, unsigned int max);
 int snd_pcm_extplug_set_slave_param_list(snd_pcm_extplug_t *extplug, int type, unsigned int num_list, const unsigned int *list);
 int snd_pcm_extplug_set_slave_param_minmax(snd_pcm_extplug_t *extplug, int type, unsigned int min, unsigned int max);
+int snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_link(snd_pcm_extplug_t *extplug, int type,
+				   int keep_link);
 
 /**
  * set the parameter constraint with a single value
diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm_ext_parm.h b/src/pcm/pcm_ext_parm.h
index d25f2ab6..7b99bef5 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm_ext_parm.h
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm_ext_parm.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ struct snd_ext_parm {
 	unsigned int *list;
 	unsigned int active: 1;
 	unsigned int integer: 1;
+	unsigned int keep_link: 1;
 };
 
 static inline snd_mask_t *hw_param_mask(snd_pcm_hw_params_t *params,
diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm_extplug.c b/src/pcm/pcm_extplug.c
index 1f887c54..94002dc4 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm_extplug.c
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm_extplug.c
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ static unsigned int get_links(struct snd_ext_parm *params)
 			      SND_PCM_HW_PARBIT_TICK_TIME);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < SND_PCM_EXTPLUG_HW_PARAMS; i++) {
-		if (params[i].active)
+		if (params[i].active && !params[i].keep_link)
 			links &= ~excl_parbits[i];
 	}
 	return links;
@@ -642,6 +642,17 @@ as former functions.
 To clear the parameter constraints, call #snd_pcm_extplug_params_reset()
 function. 
 
+When using snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_*() or snd_pcm_extplug_set_slave_param_*()
+for any parameter. This parameter is no longer linked between the client and
+slave PCM. Therefore it could differ and the extplug has to support conversion
+between all valid parameter configurations. To keep the client and slave
+parameter linked #snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_link() can be used for the
+corresponding parameter. For example if the extplug does not support channel nor
+format conversion the supported client parameters can be limited with
+snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_*() and afterwards
+#snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_link(ext, SND_PCM_EXTPLUG_HW_FORMAT, 1) and
+#snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_link(ext, SND_PCM_EXTPLUG_HW_CHANNELS, 1) should be
+called to keep the client and slave parameters the same.
 */
 
 /**
@@ -849,3 +860,26 @@ int snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_minmax(snd_pcm_extplug_t *extplug, int type, unsig
 	return snd_ext_parm_set_minmax(&ext->params[type], min, max);
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Keep the client and slave format/channels the same if requested. This
+ * is for example useful if this extplug does not support any channel
+ * conversion.
+ * @param extplug the extplug handle
+ * @param type parameter type
+ * @param keep_link if 1 the parameter identified by type will be kept the same
+ * for the client and slave PCM of this extplug
+ * @return 0 if successful, or a negative error code
+ */
+int snd_pcm_extplug_set_param_link(snd_pcm_extplug_t *extplug, int type,
+				   int keep_link)
+{
+	extplug_priv_t *ext = extplug->pcm->private_data;
+
+	if (type < 0 || type >= SND_PCM_EXTPLUG_HW_PARAMS) {
+		SNDERR("EXTPLUG: invalid parameter type %d", type);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+	ext->params[type].keep_link = keep_link ? 1 : 0;
+	ext->sparams[type].keep_link = keep_link ? 1 : 0;
+	return 0;
+}