An interface comprises routing circuitry configured to receive data items from a data source device and to route the received data items to a data sink device by either a first data path including a data buffer or a second data path, in response to an indication of a current state of a data sink device; the routing circuitry being configured to route the received data item by the first data path and to initiate a transition of the data sink device to a ready state in response to an indication that the data sink device is in a quiescent mode and currently not ready to receive the data item, the routing circuitry being configured to hold the data item at the buffer and to inhibit the data source device from sending further data items until the routing circuitry receives a subsequent indication that the data sink device is ready to receive the data item; and the routing circuitry being configured to route the received data item by the second data path in response to an indication that the data sink device is currently ready to receive the data item.