diff --git a/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c b/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
index 0e2dbe14e2..bbb7f7994d 100644
--- a/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
+++ b/src/joystick/SDL_gamecontroller.c
@@ -3280,10 +3280,11 @@ const char *SDL_GameControllerGetAppleSFSymbolsNameForAxis(SDL_GameController *g
     }
     SDL_UnlockJoysticks();
 
-    return retval;
-#else
-    return NULL;
+    if (retval && *retval) {
+        return retval;
+    }
 #endif
+    return NULL;
 }
 
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