diff --git a/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h b/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
index 7c41bc7ad..3e420242b 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ public:
 	int start();
 	void stop();
 
+	int startIpa();
+	void stopIpa();
+
 	void queueRequest(const uint32_t frame, const ControlList &controls);
 	int queueBuffers(uint32_t frame, FrameBuffer *input,
 			 const std::map<const Stream *, FrameBuffer *> &outputs);
diff --git a/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp b/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
index 46a7cb5c1..11e0c49ed 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ int SoftwareIsp::queueBuffers(uint32_t frame, FrameBuffer *input,
  */
 int SoftwareIsp::start()
 {
-	int ret = ipa_->start();
+	int ret = startIpa();
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
@@ -388,6 +388,19 @@ int SoftwareIsp::start()
 				      ConnectionTypeBlocking);
 }
 
+/**
+ * \brief Starts the software ISP IPA
+ *
+ * Only the IPA is started here. If you want full software ISP with debayering,
+ * use \a start() instead.
+ *
+ * \return 0 on success, any other value indicates an error
+ */
+int SoftwareIsp::startIpa()
+{
+	return ipa_->start();
+}
+
 /**
  * \brief Stops the Software ISP streaming operation
  *
@@ -409,7 +422,7 @@ void SoftwareIsp::stop()
 
 	Thread::current()->dispatchMessages(Message::Type::InvokeMessage, this);
 
-	ipa_->stop();
+	stopIpa();
 
 	for (auto buffer : queuedOutputBuffers_) {
 		buffer->_d()->cancel();
@@ -424,6 +437,17 @@ void SoftwareIsp::stop()
 	queuedInputBuffers_.clear();
 }
 
+/**
+ * \brief Stops the software ISP IPA
+ *
+ * Only the IPA is stopped here. If you stop full software ISP with debayering,
+ * use \a stop() instead.
+ */
+void SoftwareIsp::stopIpa()
+{
+	ipa_->stop();
+}
+
 /**
  * \brief Passes the input framebuffer to the ISP worker to process
  * \param[in] frame The frame number