diff --git a/src/joystick/linux/SDL_sysjoystick.c b/src/joystick/linux/SDL_sysjoystick.c
index b79a7b79cd..bb7c31cedc 100644
--- a/src/joystick/linux/SDL_sysjoystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/linux/SDL_sysjoystick.c
@@ -1026,6 +1026,9 @@ static void LINUX_JoystickDetect(void)
 static int LINUX_JoystickInit(void)
 {
     const char *devices = SDL_GetHint(SDL_HINT_JOYSTICK_DEVICE);
+#ifdef SDL_USE_LIBUDEV
+    int udev_status = SDL_UDEV_Init();
+#endif
 
     SDL_classic_joysticks = SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_LINUX_JOYSTICK_CLASSIC, SDL_FALSE);
 
@@ -1076,7 +1079,7 @@ static int LINUX_JoystickInit(void)
     }
 
     if (enumeration_method == ENUMERATION_LIBUDEV) {
-        if (SDL_UDEV_Init() == 0) {
+        if (udev_status == 0) {
             /* Set up the udev callback */
             if (SDL_UDEV_AddCallback(joystick_udev_callback) < 0) {
                 SDL_UDEV_Quit();