diff --git a/common/defaults.h b/common/defaults.h
index bd76b244..2c7537f4 100644
--- a/common/defaults.h
+++ b/common/defaults.h
@@ -191,6 +191,10 @@ Default build-depended cvar and constant values
 	#define DEFAULT_M_IGNORE "0"
 #endif // DEFAULT_M_IGNORE
 
+#ifndef DEFAULT_JOY_DEADZONE
+	#define DEFAULT_JOY_DEADZONE "4096"
+#endif // DEFAULT_JOY_DEADZONE
+
 #ifndef DEFAULT_DEV
 	#define DEFAULT_DEV 0
 #endif // DEFAULT_DEV
diff --git a/engine/client/in_joy.c b/engine/client/in_joy.c
index 8c407fd7..1a3db099 100644
--- a/engine/client/in_joy.c
+++ b/engine/client/in_joy.c
@@ -393,10 +393,10 @@ void Joy_Init( void )
 	joy_forward_key_threshold = Cvar_Get( "joy_forward_key_threshold", "24576", FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "forward axis key event emit threshold. Value from 0 to 32767");
 
 	// by default, we rely on deadzone detection come from system, but some glitchy devices report false deadzones
-	joy_side_deadzone = Cvar_Get( "joy_side_deadzone", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "side axis deadzone. Value from 0 to 32767" );
-	joy_forward_deadzone = Cvar_Get( "joy_forward_deadzone", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "forward axis deadzone. Value from 0 to 32767");
-	joy_pitch_deadzone = Cvar_Get( "joy_pitch_deadzone", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "pitch axis deadzone. Value from 0 to 32767");
-	joy_yaw_deadzone = Cvar_Get( "joy_yaw_deadzone", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "yaw axis deadzone. Value from 0 to 32767" );
+	joy_side_deadzone = Cvar_Get( "joy_side_deadzone", DEFAULT_JOY_DEADZONE, FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "side axis deadzone. Value from 0 to 32767" );
+	joy_forward_deadzone = Cvar_Get( "joy_forward_deadzone", DEFAULT_JOY_DEADZONE, FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "forward axis deadzone. Value from 0 to 32767");
+	joy_pitch_deadzone = Cvar_Get( "joy_pitch_deadzone", DEFAULT_JOY_DEADZONE, FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "pitch axis deadzone. Value from 0 to 32767");
+	joy_yaw_deadzone = Cvar_Get( "joy_yaw_deadzone", DEFAULT_JOY_DEADZONE, FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "yaw axis deadzone. Value from 0 to 32767" );
 
 	joy_axis_binding = Cvar_Get( "joy_axis_binding", "sfpyrl", FCVAR_ARCHIVE | FCVAR_FILTERABLE, "axis hardware id to engine inner axis binding, "
 		"s - side, f - forward, y - yaw, p - pitch, r - left trigger, l - right trigger" );