diff --git a/src/supertux/main.cpp b/src/supertux/main.cpp
index ca02a0fd2e4..7b80c2624fa 100644
--- a/src/supertux/main.cpp
+++ b/src/supertux/main.cpp
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ Main::parse_commandline(int argc, char** argv)
 void
 Main::init_sdl()
 {
-  if(SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_TIMER | SDL_INIT_VIDEO | SDL_INIT_JOYSTICK) < 0) {
+  if(SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_TIMER | SDL_INIT_VIDEO | SDL_INIT_JOYSTICK | SDL_INIT_GAMECONTROLLER) < 0) {
     std::stringstream msg;
     msg << "Couldn't initialize SDL: " << SDL_GetError();
     throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());