diff --git a/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c b/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
index a7d3303b31..1cf8c2e417 100644
--- a/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
+++ b/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
@@ -1391,9 +1391,6 @@ static ControllerMapping_t *SDL_PrivateGetControllerMappingForNameAndGUID(const
     }
 #endif /* __LINUX__ */
 
-    if (!mapping) {
-        mapping = s_pDefaultMapping;
-    }
     return mapping;
 }
 
@@ -1506,6 +1503,9 @@ static ControllerMapping_t *SDL_PrivateGetControllerMapping(int device_index)
         }
     }
 
+    if (!mapping) {
+        mapping = s_pDefaultMapping;
+    }
     return mapping;
 }
 
@@ -2059,7 +2059,7 @@ SDL_bool SDL_IsGameControllerNameAndGUID(const char *name, SDL_JoystickGUID guid
 
     SDL_LockJoysticks();
     {
-        if (SDL_PrivateGetControllerMappingForNameAndGUID(name, guid) != NULL) {
+        if (s_pDefaultMapping || SDL_PrivateGetControllerMappingForNameAndGUID(name, guid) != NULL) {
             retval = SDL_TRUE;
         } else {
             retval = SDL_FALSE;