diff --git a/topology/pre-process-object.c b/topology/pre-process-object.c
index 43f8930..1baa9b6 100644
--- a/topology/pre-process-object.c
+++ b/topology/pre-process-object.c
@@ -118,12 +118,16 @@ int tplg_parent_update(struct tplg_pre_processor *tplg_pp, snd_config_t *parent,
 
 	/* get section config */
 	if (!strcmp(section_name, "tlv")) {
-		ret = tplg_config_make_add(&item_config, section_name,
-					  SND_CONFIG_TYPE_STRING, cfg);
-		if (ret < 0) {
-			SNDERR("Error creating section config widget %s for %s\n",
-			       section_name, parent_name);
-			return ret;
+		/* set tlv name if config exists already */
+		ret = snd_config_search(cfg, section_name, &item_config);
+			if (ret < 0) {
+			ret = tplg_config_make_add(&item_config, section_name,
+						  SND_CONFIG_TYPE_STRING, cfg);
+			if (ret < 0) {
+				SNDERR("Error creating section config widget %s for %s\n",
+				       section_name, parent_name);
+				return ret;
+			}
 		}
 
 		return snd_config_set_string(item_config, item_name);