diff --git a/tools/topology/topology2/include/dais/alh.conf b/tools/topology/topology2/include/dais/alh.conf
index 4f4908455cb6..4f9f5d2ef6cb 100644
--- a/tools/topology/topology2/include/dais/alh.conf
+++ b/tools/topology/topology2/include/dais/alh.conf
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Class.Dai."ALH" {
 
 	DefineAttribute."direction" {
 		type "string"
-		token_ref	"dai.word"
+		token_ref	"dai.string"
 		constraints {
 			!valid_values [
 				"playback"