--- a/patch_cirrus_apple.h
+++ b/patch_cirrus_apple.h
@@ -1257,6 +1257,19 @@
 				}
 				else if (stream == SNDRV_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE)
 				{
+					// iMac19,2 mic fix: HDA auto-config sometimes lands this
+					// capture PCM stream's nid on neither the internal-mic ADC
+					// nor the headset-mic node (e.g. it lands on an unwired
+					// Line-In node such as 0x12), orphaning the real internal
+					// mic entirely -- its mixer/gain controls stay present and
+					// adjustable, but nothing is ever routed through them.
+					// Force it back onto the internal-mic ADC in that case.
+					// See egorenar/snd-hda-codec-cs8409#5 (comment 2026-08-19).
+					if (hinfo->nid != spec->intmike_adc_nid && hinfo->nid != 0x1a)
+					{
+						mycodec_dbg(codec, "cs_8409_apple_boot_init capture stream nid 0x%02x is not intmike (0x%02x) or headset (0x1a), forcing to intmike\n", hinfo->nid, spec->intmike_adc_nid);
+						hinfo->nid = spec->intmike_adc_nid;
+					}
 					//if (hinfo->nid == 0x22)
 					if (hinfo->nid == spec->intmike_adc_nid)
 					{