diff --git a/drivers/media/mc/mc-entity.c b/drivers/media/mc/mc-entity.c
index 543a392f8635..a6f28366106f 100644
--- a/drivers/media/mc/mc-entity.c
+++ b/drivers/media/mc/mc-entity.c
@@ -620,13 +620,6 @@ static int media_pipeline_explore_next_link(struct media_pipeline *pipe,
 		link->source->entity->name, link->source->index,
 		link->sink->entity->name, link->sink->index);
 
-	/* Skip links that are not enabled. */
-	if (!(link->flags & MEDIA_LNK_FL_ENABLED)) {
-		dev_dbg(walk->mdev->dev,
-			"media pipeline: skipping link (disabled)\n");
-		return 0;
-	}
-
 	/* Get the local pad and remote pad. */
 	if (link->source->entity == pad->entity) {
 		local = link->source;
@@ -648,13 +641,20 @@ static int media_pipeline_explore_next_link(struct media_pipeline *pipe,
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Add the local and remote pads of the link to the pipeline and push
-	 * them to the stack, if they're not already present.
+	 * Add the local pad of the link to the pipeline and push it to the
+	 * stack, if not already present.
 	 */
 	ret = media_pipeline_add_pad(pipe, walk, local);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
+	/* Similarly, add the remote pad, but only if the link is enabled. */
+	if (!(link->flags & MEDIA_LNK_FL_ENABLED)) {
+		dev_dbg(walk->mdev->dev,
+			"media pipeline: skipping link (disabled)\n");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	ret = media_pipeline_add_pad(pipe, walk, remote);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;