diff --git a/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c b/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
index bce36ab150..0e2dbe14e2 100644
--- a/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
+++ b/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
@@ -3259,10 +3259,11 @@ const char *SDL_GameControllerGetAppleSFSymbolsNameForButton(SDL_GameController
     }
     SDL_UnlockJoysticks();
 
-    return retval;
-#else
-    return NULL;
+    if (retval && *retval) {
+        return retval;
+    }
 #endif
+    return NULL;
 }
 
 const char *SDL_GameControllerGetAppleSFSymbolsNameForAxis(SDL_GameController *gamecontroller, SDL_GameControllerAxis axis)