diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 79ef068d47..5e27d5e224 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -1072,8 +1072,10 @@ static const enum resampler_quality audio_resampler_quality_level = RESAMPLER_QU
 #endif
 
 /* MIDI */
-static const char *midi_input     = "Off";
-static const char *midi_output    = "Off";
+#define DEFAULT_MIDI_INPUT  "Off"
+
+#define DEFAULT_MIDI_OUTPUT "Off"
+
 static const unsigned midi_volume = 100;
 
 /* Only applies to Android 7.0 (API 24) and up */
diff --git a/configuration.c b/configuration.c
index 6a466ef8df..2cf65ebbfe 100644
--- a/configuration.c
+++ b/configuration.c
@@ -1166,8 +1166,8 @@ static struct config_array_setting *populate_settings_array(settings_t *settings
    SETTING_ARRAY("led_driver",               settings->arrays.led_driver, false, NULL, true);
    SETTING_ARRAY("netplay_mitm_server",      settings->arrays.netplay_mitm_server, false, NULL, true);
    SETTING_ARRAY("midi_driver",              settings->arrays.midi_driver, false, NULL, true);
-   SETTING_ARRAY("midi_input",               settings->arrays.midi_input, true, midi_input, true);
-   SETTING_ARRAY("midi_output",              settings->arrays.midi_output, true, midi_output, true);
+   SETTING_ARRAY("midi_input",               settings->arrays.midi_input, true, DEFAULT_MIDI_INPUT, true);
+   SETTING_ARRAY("midi_output",              settings->arrays.midi_output, true, DEFAULT_MIDI_OUTPUT, true);
    SETTING_ARRAY("youtube_stream_key",       settings->arrays.youtube_stream_key, true, NULL, true);
    SETTING_ARRAY("twitch_stream_key",       settings->arrays.twitch_stream_key, true, NULL, true);
    SETTING_ARRAY("discord_app_id",           settings->arrays.discord_app_id, true, DEFAULT_DISCORD_APP_ID, true);
@@ -2420,12 +2420,10 @@ void config_set_defaults(void *data)
       free(temp_str);
    }
 
-   if (midi_input)
-      strlcpy(settings->arrays.midi_input,
-            midi_input, sizeof(settings->arrays.midi_input));
-   if (midi_output)
-      strlcpy(settings->arrays.midi_output,
-            midi_output, sizeof(settings->arrays.midi_output));
+   strlcpy(settings->arrays.midi_input,
+         DEFAULT_MIDI_INPUT, sizeof(settings->arrays.midi_input));
+   strlcpy(settings->arrays.midi_output,
+         DEFAULT_MIDI_OUTPUT, sizeof(settings->arrays.midi_output));
 
 #ifdef HAVE_CONFIGFILE
    /* Avoid reloading config on every content load */
diff --git a/menu/menu_setting.c b/menu/menu_setting.c
index 0c0354eaae..4133f24578 100644
--- a/menu/menu_setting.c
+++ b/menu/menu_setting.c
@@ -16769,7 +16769,7 @@ static bool setting_append_list(
                sizeof(settings->arrays.midi_input),
                MENU_ENUM_LABEL_MIDI_INPUT,
                MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_MIDI_INPUT,
-               midi_input,
+               DEFAULT_MIDI_INPUT,
                &group_info,
                &subgroup_info,
                parent_group,
@@ -16785,7 +16785,7 @@ static bool setting_append_list(
                sizeof(settings->arrays.midi_output),
                MENU_ENUM_LABEL_MIDI_OUTPUT,
                MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_MIDI_OUTPUT,
-               midi_output,
+               DEFAULT_MIDI_OUTPUT,
                &group_info,
                &subgroup_info,
                parent_group,