diff --git a/Kconfig.sof b/Kconfig.sof
index be5bdc2f35b0..2c18ede53362 100644
--- a/Kconfig.sof
+++ b/Kconfig.sof
@@ -130,6 +130,13 @@ config COLD_STORE_EXECUTE_DRAM
 	  option to enable this feature to save SRAM and to speed up SRAM
 	  copying of performance-critical data and code.
 
+
+config COLD_STORE_EXECUTE_DEBUG
+	bool "Enable checks for cold code on hot paths"
+	help
+	  This enables an assert_can_be_cold() check, which causes an exception
+	  if called in the LL task context and assert() evaluation is enabled.
+
 config FAST_GET
 	bool "Enable simple refcounting DRAM data copier"
 	default n
diff --git a/app/debug_overlay.conf b/app/debug_overlay.conf
index 3827976086d8..d020447ef02d 100644
--- a/app/debug_overlay.conf
+++ b/app/debug_overlay.conf
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ CONFIG_DAI_VERBOSE_GLITCH_WARNINGS=y
 # CONFIG_SYS_HEAP_VALIDATE=y
 # CONFIG_SPIN_VALIDATE=y
 # CONFIG_SPIN_LOCK_TIME_LIMIT=50000
+
+CONFIG_COLD_STORE_EXECUTE_DEBUG=y
diff --git a/posix/include/sof/lib/memory.h b/posix/include/sof/lib/memory.h
index 9a784ec7f19d..219ebf2bc76c 100644
--- a/posix/include/sof/lib/memory.h
+++ b/posix/include/sof/lib/memory.h
@@ -18,4 +18,6 @@
 #define __cold_rodata
 #endif
 
+#define assert_can_be_cold() do {} while (0)
+
 #endif /* __SOF_LIB_MEMORY_H__ */
diff --git a/src/audio/drc/drc.c b/src/audio/drc/drc.c
index deaa5b1d8ad4..6b473f000bea 100644
--- a/src/audio/drc/drc.c
+++ b/src/audio/drc/drc.c
@@ -151,6 +151,8 @@ __cold static int drc_init(struct processing_module *mod)
 	size_t bs = cfg->size;
 	int ret;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(dev, "drc_init()");
 
 	/* Check first before proceeding with dev and cd that coefficients
@@ -203,6 +205,8 @@ __cold static int drc_free(struct processing_module *mod)
 {
 	struct drc_comp_data *cd = module_get_private_data(mod);
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_data_blob_handler_free(cd->model_handler);
 	rfree(cd);
 	return 0;
@@ -216,6 +220,8 @@ __cold static int drc_set_config(struct processing_module *mod, uint32_t param_i
 	struct drc_comp_data *cd = module_get_private_data(mod);
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_dbg(dev, "drc_set_config()");
 
 #if CONFIG_IPC_MAJOR_4
@@ -253,6 +259,8 @@ __cold static int drc_get_config(struct processing_module *mod,
 	struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data *cdata = (struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data *)fragment;
 	struct drc_comp_data *cd = module_get_private_data(mod);
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(mod->dev, "drc_get_config()");
 
 	return comp_data_blob_get_cmd(cd->model_handler, cdata, fragment_size);
diff --git a/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c b/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
index 62432357b4e4..3bb41ad775fb 100644
--- a/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
+++ b/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
@@ -285,6 +285,8 @@ __cold static int multiband_drc_free(struct processing_module *mod)
 {
 	struct multiband_drc_comp_data *cd = module_get_private_data(mod);
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(mod->dev, "multiband_drc_free()");
 
 	comp_data_blob_handler_free(cd->model_handler);
@@ -301,6 +303,8 @@ __cold static int multiband_drc_set_config(struct processing_module *mod, uint32
 {
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_dbg(dev, "multiband_drc_set_config()");
 
 	return multiband_drc_set_ipc_config(mod, param_id,
@@ -313,6 +317,8 @@ __cold static int multiband_drc_get_config(struct processing_module *mod,
 {
 	struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data *cdata = (struct sof_ipc_ctrl_data *)fragment;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_dbg(mod->dev, "multiband_drc_get_config()");
 
 	return multiband_drc_get_ipc_config(mod, cdata, fragment_size);
@@ -364,6 +370,8 @@ __cold static int multiband_drc_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	int rate;
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(dev, "multiband_drc_prepare()");
 
 	ret = multiband_drc_params(mod);
@@ -403,6 +411,8 @@ __cold static int multiband_drc_reset(struct processing_module *mod)
 {
 	struct multiband_drc_comp_data *cd = module_get_private_data(mod);
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(mod->dev, "multiband_drc_reset()");
 
 	multiband_drc_reset_state(&cd->state);
diff --git a/src/audio/src/src.c b/src/audio/src/src.c
index 5061d47abb22..9eeb93507033 100644
--- a/src/audio/src/src.c
+++ b/src/audio/src/src.c
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ __cold static int src_prepare(struct processing_module *mod,
 	struct src_param *a = &cd->param;
 	int ret;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(mod->dev, "src_prepare()");
 
 	if (num_of_sources != 1 || num_of_sinks != 1)
diff --git a/src/audio/src/src_common.c b/src/audio/src/src_common.c
index 7b8fc99dc5c0..9605a3b8bb87 100644
--- a/src/audio/src/src_common.c
+++ b/src/audio/src/src_common.c
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ __cold static int src_buffer_lengths(struct comp_dev *dev, struct comp_data *cd,
 	int source_frames;
 	int r1, n;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	a = &cd->param;
 	fs_in = cd->source_rate;
 	fs_out = cd->sink_rate;
@@ -192,6 +194,8 @@ __cold static int src_polyphase_init(struct polyphase_src *src, struct src_param
 	int n_stages;
 	int ret;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	if (p->idx_in < 0 || p->idx_out < 0)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
@@ -400,6 +404,8 @@ __cold static int src_verify_params(struct processing_module *mod)
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 	int ret;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_dbg(dev, "src_verify_params()");
 
 	/* check whether params->rate (received from driver) are equal
@@ -485,6 +491,8 @@ __cold int src_params_general(struct processing_module *mod,
 	int n;
 	int err;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(dev, "src_params()");
 
 	err = src_set_params(mod, sink);
@@ -581,6 +589,8 @@ __cold int src_param_set(struct comp_dev *dev, struct comp_data *cd)
 	int fs_in = cd->source_rate;
 	int fs_out = cd->sink_rate;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	a->idx_in = src_find_fs(a->in_fs, a->num_in_fs, fs_in);
 	a->idx_out = src_find_fs(a->out_fs, a->num_out_fs, fs_out);
 
@@ -607,6 +617,8 @@ __cold int src_allocate_copy_stages(struct comp_dev *dev, struct src_param *prm,
 	size_t tap_size = sizeof(int32_t);
 #endif
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	stage_dst = rmalloc(SOF_MEM_ZONE_RUNTIME, 0, SOF_MEM_CAPS_RAM,
 			    2 * sizeof(*stage_dst));
 	if (!stage_dst) {
@@ -672,12 +684,16 @@ __cold int src_set_config(struct processing_module *mod, uint32_t config_id,
 			  const uint8_t *fragment, size_t fragment_size, uint8_t *response,
 			  size_t response_size)
 {
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	return -EINVAL;
 }
 
 __cold int src_get_config(struct processing_module *mod, uint32_t config_id,
 			  uint32_t *data_offset_size, uint8_t *fragment, size_t fragment_size)
 {
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	return -EINVAL;
 }
 
@@ -685,6 +701,8 @@ __cold int src_reset(struct processing_module *mod)
 {
 	struct comp_data *cd = module_get_private_data(mod);
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(mod->dev, "src_reset()");
 
 	cd->src_func = src_fallback;
@@ -697,6 +715,8 @@ __cold int src_free(struct processing_module *mod)
 {
 	struct comp_data *cd = module_get_private_data(mod);
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_info(mod->dev, "src_free()");
 
 	/* Free dynamically reserved buffers for SRC algorithm */
diff --git a/src/audio/src/src_ipc4.c b/src/audio/src/src_ipc4.c
index dab696a992cf..db32bc228838 100644
--- a/src/audio/src/src_ipc4.c
+++ b/src/audio/src/src_ipc4.c
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ __cold int src_set_params(struct processing_module *mod, struct sof_sink *sink)
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 	int ret;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	src_params = *params;
 	src_params.channels = mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt.channels_count;
 	src_params.buffer_fmt = mod->priv.cfg.base_cfg.audio_fmt.interleaving_style;
@@ -124,6 +126,8 @@ __cold void src_get_source_sink_params(struct comp_dev *dev, struct sof_source *
 	struct comp_data *cd = module_get_private_data(mod);
 	enum sof_ipc_frame frame_fmt, valid_fmt;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	/* convert IPC4 config to format used by the module */
 	audio_stream_fmt_conversion(cd->ipc_config.base.audio_fmt.depth,
 				    cd->ipc_config.base.audio_fmt.valid_bit_depth,
@@ -144,6 +148,8 @@ __cold int src_prepare_general(struct processing_module *mod,
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	/* set align requirements */
 	src_set_alignment(source, sink);
 
@@ -187,6 +193,8 @@ __cold int src_init(struct processing_module *mod)
 	struct comp_dev *dev = mod->dev;
 	struct comp_data *cd = NULL;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_dbg(dev, "src_init()");
 
 	if (!cfg->init_data || cfg->size != sizeof(cd->ipc_config)) {
diff --git a/src/debug/tester/tester_simple_dram_test.c b/src/debug/tester/tester_simple_dram_test.c
index 5114c66725c2..5cf1917de3cd 100644
--- a/src/debug/tester/tester_simple_dram_test.c
+++ b/src/debug/tester/tester_simple_dram_test.c
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ __cold static int simple_dram_test_case_init(struct processing_module *mod, void
 	struct tester_module_simple_dram_test_data *data =
 		rzalloc(0, 0, SOF_MEM_CAPS_L3, sizeof(*data));
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	if (!data)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
@@ -63,6 +65,8 @@ __cold static int simple_dram_test_case_process(void *ctx, struct processing_mod
 {
 	struct tester_module_simple_dram_test_data *data = ctx;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	/* copy every second cycle */
 	*do_copy = data->do_copy_data;
 	data->do_copy_data = !data->do_copy_data;
@@ -72,6 +76,8 @@ __cold static int simple_dram_test_case_process(void *ctx, struct processing_mod
 
 __cold static int simple_dram_test_free(void *ctx, struct processing_module *mod)
 {
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	rfree(ctx);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/include/sof/schedule/ll_schedule_domain.h b/src/include/sof/schedule/ll_schedule_domain.h
index 9765df5ef0bc..dbc32656dd2f 100644
--- a/src/include/sof/schedule/ll_schedule_domain.h
+++ b/src/include/sof/schedule/ll_schedule_domain.h
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ struct ll_schedule_domain *zephyr_dma_domain_init(struct dma *dma_array,
 						  uint32_t num_dma,
 						  int clk);
 #endif /* CONFIG_DMA_DOMAIN */
+struct ll_schedule_domain *zephyr_ll_domain(void);
 struct ll_schedule_domain *zephyr_domain_init(int clk);
 #define timer_domain_init(timer, clk) zephyr_domain_init(clk)
 #endif
diff --git a/src/ipc/ipc4/handler.c b/src/ipc/ipc4/handler.c
index 3fb49696f343..5ea024430ec7 100644
--- a/src/ipc/ipc4/handler.c
+++ b/src/ipc/ipc4/handler.c
@@ -886,6 +886,8 @@ __cold static int ipc4_init_module_instance(struct ipc4_message_request *ipc4)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return IPC4_FAILURE;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	tr_dbg(&ipc_tr,
 		"ipc4_init_module_instance %x : %x",
 		(uint32_t)module_init.primary.r.module_id,
diff --git a/src/ipc/ipc4/helper.c b/src/ipc/ipc4/helper.c
index eca6acd17413..8605a9e37ecd 100644
--- a/src/ipc/ipc4/helper.c
+++ b/src/ipc/ipc4/helper.c
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ __cold struct comp_dev *comp_new_ipc4(struct ipc4_module_init_instance *module_i
 	uint32_t comp_id;
 	char *data;
 
+	assert_can_be_cold();
+
 	comp_id = IPC4_COMP_ID(module_init->primary.r.module_id,
 			       module_init->primary.r.instance_id);
 
diff --git a/src/schedule/zephyr_domain.c b/src/schedule/zephyr_domain.c
index 0c052f611ca4..f4925e35b11a 100644
--- a/src/schedule/zephyr_domain.c
+++ b/src/schedule/zephyr_domain.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include <rtos/timer.h>
 #include <rtos/alloc.h>
+#include <rtos/symbol.h>
 #include <sof/lib/cpu.h>
 #include <sof/lib/memory.h>
 #include <sof/lib/watchdog.h>
@@ -321,3 +322,17 @@ struct ll_schedule_domain *zephyr_domain_init(int clk)
 
 	return domain;
 }
+
+/* Check if currently running in the LL scheduler thread context */
+bool ll_sch_is_current(void)
+{
+	struct zephyr_domain *zephyr_domain = ll_sch_domain_get_pdata(zephyr_ll_domain());
+
+	if (!zephyr_domain)
+		return false;
+
+	struct zephyr_domain_thread *dt = zephyr_domain->domain_thread + cpu_get_id();
+
+	return k_current_get() == &dt->ll_thread;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(ll_sch_is_current);
diff --git a/src/schedule/zephyr_ll.c b/src/schedule/zephyr_ll.c
index e455421ef040..8ce37c2dfddc 100644
--- a/src/schedule/zephyr_ll.c
+++ b/src/schedule/zephyr_ll.c
@@ -555,3 +555,11 @@ void scheduler_get_task_info_ll(struct scheduler_props *scheduler_props,
 	scheduler_get_task_info(scheduler_props, data_off_size, &ll_sch->tasks);
 	zephyr_ll_unlock(ll_sch, &flags);
 }
+
+/* Return a pointer to the LL scheduler timer domain */
+struct ll_schedule_domain *zephyr_ll_domain(void)
+{
+	struct zephyr_ll *ll_sch = scheduler_get_data(SOF_SCHEDULE_LL_TIMER);
+
+	return ll_sch->ll_domain;
+}
diff --git a/xtos/include/sof/lib/memory.h b/xtos/include/sof/lib/memory.h
index 9a784ec7f19d..219ebf2bc76c 100644
--- a/xtos/include/sof/lib/memory.h
+++ b/xtos/include/sof/lib/memory.h
@@ -18,4 +18,6 @@
 #define __cold_rodata
 #endif
 
+#define assert_can_be_cold() do {} while (0)
+
 #endif /* __SOF_LIB_MEMORY_H__ */
diff --git a/zephyr/include/sof/lib/memory.h b/zephyr/include/sof/lib/memory.h
index f58686a92981..b7d709b5276b 100644
--- a/zephyr/include/sof/lib/memory.h
+++ b/zephyr/include/sof/lib/memory.h
@@ -16,4 +16,21 @@
 #define __cold_rodata
 #endif
 
+#if CONFIG_COLD_STORE_EXECUTE_DEBUG
+#include <rtos/panic.h>
+
+#ifdef __ZEPHYR__
+bool ll_sch_is_current(void);
+#else
+#define ll_sch_is_current() false
+#endif
+
+static inline void assert_can_be_cold(void)
+{
+	assert(!ll_sch_is_current());
+}
+#else
+#define assert_can_be_cold() do {} while (0)
+#endif
+
 #endif /* __SOF_LIB_MEMORY_H__ */