diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/ipc3-topology.c b/sound/soc/sof/ipc3-topology.c
index 743f42fb26c08a..d9e8386f37ec44 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/ipc3-topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/ipc3-topology.c
@@ -519,6 +519,7 @@ static int sof_ipc3_widget_setup_comp_mixer(struct snd_sof_widget *swidget)
 static int sof_ipc3_widget_setup_comp_pipeline(struct snd_sof_widget *swidget)
 {
 	struct snd_soc_component *scomp = swidget->scomp;
+	struct snd_sof_dev *sdev = snd_soc_component_get_drvdata(scomp);
 	struct snd_sof_pipeline *spipe = swidget->spipe;
 	struct sof_ipc_pipe_new *pipeline;
 	struct snd_sof_widget *comp_swidget;
@@ -559,8 +560,15 @@ static int sof_ipc3_widget_setup_comp_pipeline(struct snd_sof_widget *swidget)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto err;
 
-	if (sof_debug_check_flag(SOF_DBG_DISABLE_MULTICORE))
+	if (sof_debug_check_flag(SOF_DBG_DISABLE_MULTICORE)) {
+		pipeline->core = SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE;
+	} else if (pipeline->core > sdev->num_cores - 1) {
+		dev_info(scomp->dev,
+			 "out of range core id for %s, moving it %d -> %d\n",
+			 swidget->widget->name, pipeline->core,
+			 SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE);
 		pipeline->core = SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE;
+	}
 
 	if (sof_debug_check_flag(SOF_DBG_DYNAMIC_PIPELINES_OVERRIDE))
 		swidget->dynamic_pipeline_widget =
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/ipc4-topology.c b/sound/soc/sof/ipc4-topology.c
index d28aad71c7edd4..c1e608d4f2dff8 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/ipc4-topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/ipc4-topology.c
@@ -922,6 +922,7 @@ static void sof_ipc4_widget_free_comp_dai(struct snd_sof_widget *swidget)
 static int sof_ipc4_widget_setup_comp_pipeline(struct snd_sof_widget *swidget)
 {
 	struct snd_soc_component *scomp = swidget->scomp;
+	struct snd_sof_dev *sdev = snd_soc_component_get_drvdata(scomp);
 	struct sof_ipc4_pipeline *pipeline;
 	struct snd_sof_pipeline *spipe = swidget->spipe;
 	int ret;
@@ -937,6 +938,16 @@ static int sof_ipc4_widget_setup_comp_pipeline(struct snd_sof_widget *swidget)
 		goto err;
 	}
 
+	if (sof_debug_check_flag(SOF_DBG_DISABLE_MULTICORE)) {
+		pipeline->core_id = SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE;
+	} else if (pipeline->core_id > sdev->num_cores - 1) {
+		dev_info(scomp->dev,
+			 "out of range core id for %s, moving it %d -> %d\n",
+			 swidget->widget->name, pipeline->core_id,
+			 SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE);
+		pipeline->core_id = SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE;
+	}
+
 	swidget->core = pipeline->core_id;
 	spipe->core_mask |= BIT(pipeline->core_id);
 
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/topology.c b/sound/soc/sof/topology.c
index 6b09b8cdf1cb66..6a31831b9732ec 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/topology.c
@@ -1565,8 +1565,15 @@ static int sof_widget_ready(struct snd_soc_component *scomp, int index,
 		int core = sof_get_token_value(SOF_TKN_COMP_CORE_ID, swidget->tuples,
 					       swidget->num_tuples);
 
-		if (core >= 0)
+		if (core >= 0) {
+			if (core > sdev->num_cores - 1) {
+				dev_info(scomp->dev,
+					 "out of range core id for %s, moving it %d -> %d\n",
+					 swidget->widget->name, core, SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE);
+				core = SOF_DSP_PRIMARY_CORE;
+			}
 			swidget->core = core;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* bind widget to external event */