diff --git a/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c b/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
index 5b1c6a2c0..2c30b23ab 100644
--- a/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
@@ -1314,13 +1314,18 @@ void SDL_QuitJoysticks(void)
     SDL_UnlockJoysticks();
 }
 
-static SDL_bool SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent()
+static SDL_bool SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent(SDL_Joystick *joystick)
 {
     if (SDL_joystick_allows_background_events) {
         return SDL_FALSE;
     }
 
     if (SDL_HasWindows() && SDL_GetKeyboardFocus() == NULL) {
+        if (SDL_IsJoystickVIRTUAL(joystick->guid)) {
+            /* Always allow events for virtual controllers, they're not affected by focus */
+            return SDL_FALSE;
+        }
+
         /* We have windows but we don't have focus, ignore the event. */
         return SDL_TRUE;
     }
@@ -1520,7 +1525,7 @@ int SDL_SendJoystickAxis(Uint64 timestamp, SDL_Joystick *joystick, Uint8 axis, S
     /* We ignore events if we don't have keyboard focus, except for centering
      * events.
      */
-    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent()) {
+    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent(joystick)) {
         if (info->sending_initial_value ||
             (value > info->zero && value >= info->value) ||
             (value < info->zero && value <= info->value)) {
@@ -1564,7 +1569,7 @@ int SDL_SendJoystickHat(Uint64 timestamp, SDL_Joystick *joystick, Uint8 hat, Uin
     /* We ignore events if we don't have keyboard focus, except for centering
      * events.
      */
-    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent()) {
+    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent(joystick)) {
         if (value != SDL_HAT_CENTERED) {
             return 0;
         }
@@ -1622,7 +1627,7 @@ int SDL_SendJoystickButton(Uint64 timestamp, SDL_Joystick *joystick, Uint8 butto
 
     /* We ignore events if we don't have keyboard focus, except for button
      * release. */
-    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent()) {
+    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent(joystick)) {
         if (state == SDL_PRESSED) {
             return 0;
         }
@@ -2922,7 +2927,7 @@ int SDL_SendJoystickTouchpad(Uint64 timestamp, SDL_Joystick *joystick, int touch
     }
 
     /* We ignore events if we don't have keyboard focus, except for touch release */
-    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent()) {
+    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent(joystick)) {
         if (event_type != SDL_GAMEPADTOUCHPADUP) {
             return 0;
         }
@@ -2961,7 +2966,7 @@ int SDL_SendJoystickSensor(Uint64 timestamp, SDL_Joystick *joystick, SDL_SensorT
     SDL_AssertJoysticksLocked();
 
     /* We ignore events if we don't have keyboard focus */
-    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent()) {
+    if (SDL_PrivateJoystickShouldIgnoreEvent(joystick)) {
         return 0;
     }