diff --git a/src/joystick/SDL_gamepad.c b/src/joystick/SDL_gamepad.c
index 86dd062769..385e890cf9 100644
--- a/src/joystick/SDL_gamepad.c
+++ b/src/joystick/SDL_gamepad.c
@@ -2754,6 +2754,7 @@ SDL_Gamepad *SDL_OpenGamepad(SDL_JoystickID instance_id)
 
     gamepad->joystick = SDL_OpenJoystick(instance_id);
     if (!gamepad->joystick) {
+        SDL_SetObjectValid(gamepad, SDL_OBJECT_TYPE_GAMEPAD, false);
         SDL_free(gamepad);
         SDL_UnlockJoysticks();
         return NULL;
@@ -2762,6 +2763,7 @@ SDL_Gamepad *SDL_OpenGamepad(SDL_JoystickID instance_id)
     if (gamepad->joystick->naxes) {
         gamepad->last_match_axis = (SDL_GamepadBinding **)SDL_calloc(gamepad->joystick->naxes, sizeof(*gamepad->last_match_axis));
         if (!gamepad->last_match_axis) {
+            SDL_SetObjectValid(gamepad, SDL_OBJECT_TYPE_GAMEPAD, false);
             SDL_CloseJoystick(gamepad->joystick);
             SDL_free(gamepad);
             SDL_UnlockJoysticks();
@@ -2771,6 +2773,7 @@ SDL_Gamepad *SDL_OpenGamepad(SDL_JoystickID instance_id)
     if (gamepad->joystick->nhats) {
         gamepad->last_hat_mask = (Uint8 *)SDL_calloc(gamepad->joystick->nhats, sizeof(*gamepad->last_hat_mask));
         if (!gamepad->last_hat_mask) {
+            SDL_SetObjectValid(gamepad, SDL_OBJECT_TYPE_GAMEPAD, false);
             SDL_CloseJoystick(gamepad->joystick);
             SDL_free(gamepad->last_match_axis);
             SDL_free(gamepad);