diff --git a/platform/x11/detect.py b/platform/x11/detect.py
index f49475a2d5a..6b147db130a 100644
--- a/platform/x11/detect.py
+++ b/platform/x11/detect.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def get_opts():
 	('use_sanitizer','Use llvm compiler sanitize address','no'),
 	('use_leak_sanitizer','Use llvm compiler sanitize memory leaks','no'),
 	('pulseaudio','Detect & Use pulseaudio','yes'),
-	('gamepad','Gamepad support, requires libudev and libevdev','yes'),
+	('udev','Use udev for gamepad connection callbacks','no'),
 	('new_wm_api', 'Use experimental window management API','no'),
 	('debug_release', 'Add debug symbols to release version','no'),
 	]
@@ -156,20 +156,18 @@ def configure(env):
 	else:
 		print("ALSA libraries not found, disabling driver")
 
-	if (env["gamepad"]=="yes" and platform.system() == "Linux"):
+	if (platform.system() == "Linux"):
+		env.Append(CPPFLAGS=["-DJOYDEV_ENABLED"])
+	if (env["udev"]=="yes"):
 		# pkg-config returns 0 when the lib exists...
 		found_udev = not os.system("pkg-config --exists libudev")
-		
+
 		if (found_udev):
-			print("Enabling gamepad support with udev")
-			env.Append(CPPFLAGS=["-DJOYDEV_ENABLED"])
+			print("Enabling udev support")
+			env.Append(CPPFLAGS=["-DUDEV_ENABLED"])
 			env.ParseConfig('pkg-config libudev --cflags --libs')
 		else:
-			print("libudev development libraries not found")
-
-			print("Some libraries are missing for the required gamepad support, aborting!")
-			print("Install the mentioned libraries or build with 'gamepad=no' to disable gamepad support.")
-			sys.exit(255)
+			print("libudev development libraries not found, disabling udev support")
 
 	if (env["pulseaudio"]=="yes"):
 		if not os.system("pkg-config --exists libpulse-simple"):
diff --git a/platform/x11/joystick_linux.cpp b/platform/x11/joystick_linux.cpp
index ef866d5d3a4..9fd19a767ea 100644
--- a/platform/x11/joystick_linux.cpp
+++ b/platform/x11/joystick_linux.cpp
@@ -99,14 +99,18 @@ void joystick_linux::joy_thread_func(void *p_user) {
 }
 
 void joystick_linux::run_joystick_thread() {
-
+#ifdef UDEV_ENABLED
 	udev *_udev = udev_new();
 	ERR_FAIL_COND(!_udev);
 	enumerate_joysticks(_udev);
 	monitor_joysticks(_udev);
 	udev_unref(_udev);
+#else
+	monitor_joysticks();
+#endif
 }
 
+#ifdef UDEV_ENABLED
 void joystick_linux::enumerate_joysticks(udev *p_udev) {
 
 	udev_enumerate *enumerate;
@@ -192,6 +196,23 @@ void joystick_linux::monitor_joysticks(udev *p_udev) {
 	//printf("exit udev\n");
 	udev_monitor_unref(mon);
 }
+#endif
+
+void joystick_linux::monitor_joysticks() {
+
+	while (!exit_udev) {
+		joy_mutex->lock();
+		for (int i = 0; i < 32; i++) {
+			char fname[64];
+			sprintf(fname, "/dev/input/event%d", i);
+			if (attached_devices.find(fname) == -1) {
+				open_joystick(fname);
+			}
+		}
+		joy_mutex->unlock();
+		usleep(1000000); // 1s
+	}
+}
 
 int joystick_linux::get_free_joy_slot() const {
 
@@ -229,6 +250,7 @@ void joystick_linux::close_joystick(int p_id) {
 
 		close(joy.fd);
 		joy.fd = -1;
+		attached_devices.remove(attached_devices.find(joy.devpath));
 		input->joy_connection_changed(p_id, false, "");
 	};
 };
@@ -302,6 +324,9 @@ void joystick_linux::open_joystick(const char *p_path) {
 		unsigned long keybit[NBITS(KEY_MAX)] = { 0 };
 		unsigned long absbit[NBITS(ABS_MAX)] = { 0 };
 
+		// add to attached devices so we don't try to open it again
+		attached_devices.push_back(String(p_path));
+
 		if ((ioctl(fd, EVIOCGBIT(0, sizeof(evbit)), evbit) < 0) ||
 		    (ioctl(fd, EVIOCGBIT(EV_KEY, sizeof(keybit)), keybit) < 0) ||
 		    (ioctl(fd, EVIOCGBIT(EV_ABS, sizeof(absbit)), absbit) < 0)) {
@@ -446,6 +471,9 @@ uint32_t joystick_linux::process_joysticks(uint32_t p_event_id) {
 				p_event_id = input->joy_axis(p_event_id, i, index, joy->curr_axis[index]);
 			}
 		}
+		if (len == 0 || (len < 0 && errno != EAGAIN)) {
+			close_joystick(i);
+		};
 	}
 	joy_mutex->unlock();
 	return p_event_id;
diff --git a/platform/x11/joystick_linux.h b/platform/x11/joystick_linux.h
index 7f96e3451f1..e433f5e8e33 100644
--- a/platform/x11/joystick_linux.h
+++ b/platform/x11/joystick_linux.h
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ private:
 	Thread *joy_thread;
 	InputDefault *input;
 	Joystick joysticks[JOYSTICKS_MAX];
+	Vector<String> attached_devices;
 
 	static void joy_thread_func(void *p_user);
 
@@ -81,8 +82,11 @@ private:
 
 	void setup_joystick_properties(int p_id);
 	void close_joystick(int p_id = -1);
+#ifdef UDEV_ENABLED
 	void enumerate_joysticks(struct udev *_udev);
 	void monitor_joysticks(struct udev *_udev);
+#endif
+	void monitor_joysticks();
 	void run_joystick_thread();
 	void open_joystick(const char* path);