diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
index 93db02121efb..c8bf81230206 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
@@ -147,6 +147,33 @@ struct nid_path *snd_hda_get_nid_path(struct hda_codec *codec,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_HDA(snd_hda_get_nid_path);
 
+/* get the index number corresponding to the path instance;
+ * the index starts from 1, for easier checking the invalid value
+ */
+int snd_hda_get_path_idx(struct hda_codec *codec, struct nid_path *path)
+{
+	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+	struct nid_path *array = spec->paths.list;
+	ssize_t idx;
+
+	if (!spec->paths.used)
+		return 0;
+	idx = path - array;
+	if (idx < 0 || idx >= spec->paths.used)
+		return 0;
+	return idx + 1;
+}
+
+/* get the path instance corresponding to the given index number */
+struct nid_path *snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(struct hda_codec *codec, int idx)
+{
+	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+
+	if (idx <= 0 || idx > spec->paths.used)
+		return NULL;
+	return snd_array_elem(&spec->paths, idx - 1);
+}
+
 /* check whether the given DAC is already found in any existing paths */
 static bool is_dac_already_used(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid)
 {
@@ -836,6 +863,7 @@ static struct badness_table extra_out_badness = {
 /* try to assign DACs to pins and return the resultant badness */
 static int try_assign_dacs(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_outs,
 			   const hda_nid_t *pins, hda_nid_t *dacs,
+			   int *path_idx,
 			   const struct badness_table *bad)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
@@ -862,6 +890,7 @@ static int try_assign_dacs(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_outs,
 				if (is_reachable_path(codec, dacs[j], pin)) {
 					dacs[0] = dacs[j];
 					dacs[j] = 0;
+					path_idx[j] = 0;
 					break;
 				}
 			}
@@ -898,6 +927,7 @@ static int try_assign_dacs(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_outs,
 		else {
 			print_nid_path("output", path);
 			path->active = true;
+			path_idx[i] = snd_hda_get_path_idx(codec, path);
 		}
 		if (dac)
 			badness += assign_out_path_ctls(codec, pin, dac);
@@ -1025,6 +1055,8 @@ static int fill_multi_ios(struct hda_codec *codec,
 			print_nid_path("multiio", path);
 			spec->multi_io[spec->multi_ios].pin = nid;
 			spec->multi_io[spec->multi_ios].dac = dac;
+			spec->out_paths[cfg->line_outs + spec->multi_ios] =
+				snd_hda_get_path_idx(codec, path);
 			spec->multi_ios++;
 			if (spec->multi_ios >= 2)
 				break;
@@ -1056,7 +1088,7 @@ static int fill_multi_ios(struct hda_codec *codec,
 
 /* map DACs for all pins in the list if they are single connections */
 static bool map_singles(struct hda_codec *codec, int outs,
-			const hda_nid_t *pins, hda_nid_t *dacs)
+			const hda_nid_t *pins, hda_nid_t *dacs, int *path_idx)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
 	int i;
@@ -1077,6 +1109,7 @@ static bool map_singles(struct hda_codec *codec, int outs,
 			found = true;
 			print_nid_path("output", path);
 			path->active = true;
+			path_idx[i] = snd_hda_get_path_idx(codec, path);
 		}
 	}
 	return found;
@@ -1107,13 +1140,16 @@ static int fill_and_eval_dacs(struct hda_codec *codec,
 		do {
 			mapped = map_singles(codec, cfg->line_outs,
 					     cfg->line_out_pins,
-					     spec->private_dac_nids);
+					     spec->private_dac_nids,
+					     spec->out_paths);
 			mapped |= map_singles(codec, cfg->hp_outs,
 					      cfg->hp_pins,
-					      spec->multiout.hp_out_nid);
+					      spec->multiout.hp_out_nid,
+					      spec->hp_paths);
 			mapped |= map_singles(codec, cfg->speaker_outs,
 					      cfg->speaker_pins,
-					      spec->multiout.extra_out_nid);
+					      spec->multiout.extra_out_nid,
+					      spec->speaker_paths);
 			if (fill_mio_first && cfg->line_outs == 1 &&
 			    cfg->line_out_type != AUTO_PIN_SPEAKER_OUT) {
 				err = fill_multi_ios(codec, cfg->line_out_pins[0], true);
@@ -1124,7 +1160,7 @@ static int fill_and_eval_dacs(struct hda_codec *codec,
 	}
 
 	badness += try_assign_dacs(codec, cfg->line_outs, cfg->line_out_pins,
-				   spec->private_dac_nids,
+				   spec->private_dac_nids, spec->out_paths,
 				   &main_out_badness);
 
 	/* re-count num_dacs and squash invalid entries */
@@ -1152,6 +1188,7 @@ static int fill_and_eval_dacs(struct hda_codec *codec,
 	if (cfg->line_out_type != AUTO_PIN_HP_OUT) {
 		err = try_assign_dacs(codec, cfg->hp_outs, cfg->hp_pins,
 				      spec->multiout.hp_out_nid,
+				      spec->hp_paths,
 				      &extra_out_badness);
 		if (err < 0)
 			return err;
@@ -1161,7 +1198,8 @@ static int fill_and_eval_dacs(struct hda_codec *codec,
 		err = try_assign_dacs(codec, cfg->speaker_outs,
 				      cfg->speaker_pins,
 				      spec->multiout.extra_out_nid,
-					 &extra_out_badness);
+				      spec->speaker_paths,
+				      &extra_out_badness);
 		if (err < 0)
 			return err;
 		badness += err;
@@ -1336,9 +1374,7 @@ static int parse_output_paths(struct hda_codec *codec)
 
 	if (cfg->line_out_pins[0]) {
 		struct nid_path *path;
-		path = snd_hda_get_nid_path(codec,
-					    spec->multiout.dac_nids[0],
-					    cfg->line_out_pins[0]);
+		path = snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec, spec->out_paths[0]);
 		if (path)
 			spec->vmaster_nid = look_for_out_vol_nid(codec, path);
 	}
@@ -1361,22 +1397,20 @@ static int create_multi_out_ctls(struct hda_codec *codec,
 	for (i = 0; i < noutputs; i++) {
 		const char *name;
 		int index;
-		hda_nid_t dac, pin;
+		hda_nid_t dac;
 		struct nid_path *path;
 
 		dac = spec->multiout.dac_nids[i];
 		if (!dac)
 			continue;
 		if (i >= cfg->line_outs) {
-			pin = spec->multi_io[i - cfg->line_outs].pin;
 			index = 0;
 			name = channel_name[i];
 		} else {
-			pin = cfg->line_out_pins[i];
 			name = get_line_out_pfx(spec, i, true, &index);
 		}
 
-		path = snd_hda_get_nid_path(codec, dac, pin);
+		path = snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec, spec->out_paths[i]);
 		if (!path)
 			continue;
 		if (!name || !strcmp(name, "CLFE")) {
@@ -1406,12 +1440,13 @@ static int create_multi_out_ctls(struct hda_codec *codec,
 }
 
 static int create_extra_out(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t pin,
-			    hda_nid_t dac, const char *pfx, int cidx)
+			    hda_nid_t dac, int path_idx,
+			    const char *pfx, int cidx)
 {
 	struct nid_path *path;
 	int err;
 
-	path = snd_hda_get_nid_path(codec, dac, pin);
+	path = snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec, path_idx);
 	if (!path)
 		return 0;
 	/* bind volume control will be created in the case of dac = 0 */
@@ -1429,7 +1464,7 @@ static int create_extra_out(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t pin,
 /* add playback controls for speaker and HP outputs */
 static int create_extra_outs(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_pins,
 			     const hda_nid_t *pins, const hda_nid_t *dacs,
-			     const char *pfx)
+			     const int *paths, const char *pfx)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
 	struct hda_bind_ctls *ctl;
@@ -1443,7 +1478,7 @@ static int create_extra_outs(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_pins,
 		hda_nid_t dac = *dacs;
 		if (!dac)
 			dac = spec->multiout.dac_nids[0];
-		return create_extra_out(codec, *pins, dac, pfx, 0);
+		return create_extra_out(codec, *pins, dac, paths[0], pfx, 0);
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < num_pins; i++) {
@@ -1453,14 +1488,16 @@ static int create_extra_outs(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_pins,
 		else
 			dac = 0;
 		if (num_pins == 2 && i == 1 && !strcmp(pfx, "Speaker")) {
-			err = create_extra_out(codec, pins[i], dac,
+			err = create_extra_out(codec, pins[i], dac, paths[i],
 					       "Bass Speaker", 0);
 		} else if (num_pins >= 3) {
 			snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "%s %s",
 				 pfx, channel_name[i]);
-			err = create_extra_out(codec, pins[i], dac, name, 0);
+			err = create_extra_out(codec, pins[i], dac, paths[i],
+					       name, 0);
 		} else {
-			err = create_extra_out(codec, pins[i], dac, pfx, i);
+			err = create_extra_out(codec, pins[i], dac, paths[i],
+					       pfx, i);
 		}
 		if (err < 0)
 			return err;
@@ -1478,7 +1515,7 @@ static int create_extra_outs(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_pins,
 		struct nid_path *path;
 		if (!pins[i] || !dacs[i])
 			continue;
-		path = snd_hda_get_nid_path(codec, dacs[i], pins[i]);
+		path = snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec, paths[i]);
 		if (!path)
 			continue;
 		vol = look_for_out_vol_nid(codec, path);
@@ -1501,6 +1538,7 @@ static int create_hp_out_ctls(struct hda_codec *codec)
 	return create_extra_outs(codec, spec->autocfg.hp_outs,
 				 spec->autocfg.hp_pins,
 				 spec->multiout.hp_out_nid,
+				 spec->hp_paths,
 				 "Headphone");
 }
 
@@ -1510,6 +1548,7 @@ static int create_speaker_out_ctls(struct hda_codec *codec)
 	return create_extra_outs(codec, spec->autocfg.speaker_outs,
 				 spec->autocfg.speaker_pins,
 				 spec->multiout.extra_out_nid,
+				 spec->speaker_paths,
 				 "Speaker");
 }
 
@@ -1615,13 +1654,21 @@ static int ch_mode_get(struct snd_kcontrol *kcontrol,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static inline struct nid_path *
+get_multiio_path(struct hda_codec *codec, int idx)
+{
+	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+	return snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec,
+		spec->out_paths[spec->autocfg.line_outs + idx]);
+}
+
 static int set_multi_io(struct hda_codec *codec, int idx, bool output)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
 	hda_nid_t nid = spec->multi_io[idx].pin;
 	struct nid_path *path;
 
-	path = snd_hda_get_nid_path(codec, spec->multi_io[idx].dac, nid);
+	path = get_multiio_path(codec, idx);
 	if (!path)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
@@ -1775,8 +1822,8 @@ static void add_loopback_list(struct hda_gen_spec *spec, hda_nid_t mix, int idx)
 #endif
 
 /* create input playback/capture controls for the given pin */
-static int new_analog_input(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t pin,
-			    const char *ctlname, int ctlidx,
+static int new_analog_input(struct hda_codec *codec, int input_idx,
+			    hda_nid_t pin, const char *ctlname, int ctlidx,
 			    hda_nid_t mix_nid)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
@@ -1792,6 +1839,7 @@ static int new_analog_input(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t pin,
 	if (!path)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	print_nid_path("loopback", path);
+	spec->loopback_paths[input_idx] = snd_hda_get_path_idx(codec, path);
 
 	idx = path->idx[path->depth - 1];
 	if (nid_has_volume(codec, mix_nid, HDA_INPUT)) {
@@ -1944,7 +1992,7 @@ static int create_input_ctls(struct hda_codec *codec)
 
 		if (mixer) {
 			if (is_reachable_path(codec, pin, mixer)) {
-				err = new_analog_input(codec, pin,
+				err = new_analog_input(codec, i, pin,
 						       label, type_idx, mixer);
 				if (err < 0)
 					return err;
@@ -2445,6 +2493,7 @@ static void parse_digital(struct hda_codec *codec)
 			continue;
 		print_nid_path("digout", path);
 		path->active = true;
+		spec->digout_paths[i] = snd_hda_get_path_idx(codec, path);
 		if (!nums) {
 			spec->multiout.dig_out_nid = dig_nid;
 			spec->dig_out_type = spec->autocfg.dig_out_type[0];
@@ -3575,12 +3624,12 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_HDA(snd_hda_gen_build_pcms);
 
 /* configure the path from the given dac to the pin as the proper output */
 static void set_output_and_unmute(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t pin,
-				  int pin_type, hda_nid_t dac)
+				  int pin_type, int path_idx)
 {
 	struct nid_path *path;
 
 	snd_hda_set_pin_ctl_cache(codec, pin, pin_type);
-	path = snd_hda_get_nid_path(codec, dac, pin);
+	path = snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec, path_idx);
 	if (!path)
 		return;
 	snd_hda_activate_path(codec, path, path->active, true);
@@ -3591,7 +3640,7 @@ static void set_output_and_unmute(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t pin,
 static void init_multi_out(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
-	hda_nid_t nid, dac;
+	hda_nid_t nid;
 	int pin_type;
 	int i;
 
@@ -3602,35 +3651,24 @@ static void init_multi_out(struct hda_codec *codec)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < spec->autocfg.line_outs; i++) {
 		nid = spec->autocfg.line_out_pins[i];
-		if (nid) {
-			dac = spec->multiout.dac_nids[i];
-			if (!dac)
-				dac = spec->multiout.dac_nids[0];
-			set_output_and_unmute(codec, nid, pin_type, dac);
-		}
+		if (nid)
+			set_output_and_unmute(codec, nid, pin_type,
+					      spec->out_paths[i]);
 	}
 }
 
 
 static void __init_extra_out(struct hda_codec *codec, int num_outs,
-			     hda_nid_t *pins, hda_nid_t *dacs, int type)
+			     hda_nid_t *pins, int *paths, int type)
 {
-	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
 	int i;
-	hda_nid_t pin, dac;
+	hda_nid_t pin;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < num_outs; i++) {
 		pin = pins[i];
 		if (!pin)
 			break;
-		dac = dacs[i];
-		if (!dac) {
-			if (i > 0 && dacs[0])
-				dac = dacs[0];
-			else
-				dac = spec->multiout.dac_nids[0];
-		}
-		set_output_and_unmute(codec, pin, type, dac);
+		set_output_and_unmute(codec, pin, type, paths[i]);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -3642,11 +3680,11 @@ static void init_extra_out(struct hda_codec *codec)
 	if (spec->autocfg.line_out_type != AUTO_PIN_HP_OUT)
 		__init_extra_out(codec, spec->autocfg.hp_outs,
 				 spec->autocfg.hp_pins,
-				 spec->multiout.hp_out_nid, PIN_HP);
+				 spec->hp_paths, PIN_HP);
 	if (spec->autocfg.line_out_type != AUTO_PIN_SPEAKER_OUT)
 		__init_extra_out(codec, spec->autocfg.speaker_outs,
 				 spec->autocfg.speaker_pins,
-				 spec->multiout.extra_out_nid, PIN_OUT);
+				 spec->speaker_paths, PIN_OUT);
 }
 
 /* initialize multi-io paths */
@@ -3658,7 +3696,7 @@ static void init_multi_io(struct hda_codec *codec)
 	for (i = 0; i < spec->multi_ios; i++) {
 		hda_nid_t pin = spec->multi_io[i].pin;
 		struct nid_path *path;
-		path = snd_hda_get_nid_path(codec, spec->multi_io[i].dac, pin);
+		path = get_multiio_path(codec, i);
 		if (!path)
 			continue;
 		if (!spec->multi_io[i].ctl_in)
@@ -3694,7 +3732,7 @@ static void init_analog_input(struct hda_codec *codec)
 		/* init loopback inputs */
 		if (spec->mixer_nid) {
 			struct nid_path *path;
-			path = snd_hda_get_nid_path(codec, nid, spec->mixer_nid);
+			path = snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(codec, spec->loopback_paths[i]);
 			if (path)
 				snd_hda_activate_path(codec, path,
 						      path->active, false);
@@ -3746,7 +3784,8 @@ static void init_digital(struct hda_codec *codec)
 		pin = spec->autocfg.dig_out_pins[i];
 		if (!pin)
 			continue;
-		set_output_and_unmute(codec, pin, PIN_OUT, 0);
+		set_output_and_unmute(codec, pin, PIN_OUT,
+				      spec->digout_paths[i]);
 	}
 	pin = spec->autocfg.dig_in_pin;
 	if (pin)
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
index f1cae2e49377..71d409f5de87 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.h
@@ -130,6 +130,13 @@ struct hda_gen_spec {
 	/* path list */
 	struct snd_array paths;
 
+	/* path indices */
+	int out_paths[AUTO_CFG_MAX_OUTS];
+	int hp_paths[AUTO_CFG_MAX_OUTS];
+	int speaker_paths[AUTO_CFG_MAX_OUTS];
+	int digout_paths[AUTO_CFG_MAX_OUTS];
+	int loopback_paths[HDA_MAX_NUM_INPUTS];
+
 	/* auto-mic stuff */
 	int am_num_entries;
 	struct automic_entry am_entry[MAX_AUTO_MIC_PINS];
@@ -198,6 +205,8 @@ int snd_hda_gen_init(struct hda_codec *codec);
 
 struct nid_path *snd_hda_get_nid_path(struct hda_codec *codec,
 				      hda_nid_t from_nid, hda_nid_t to_nid);
+int snd_hda_get_path_idx(struct hda_codec *codec, struct nid_path *path);
+struct nid_path *snd_hda_get_path_from_idx(struct hda_codec *codec, int idx);
 
 enum {
 	HDA_PARSE_NO_AAMIX,