diff --git a/tasks/task_autodetect.c b/tasks/task_autodetect.c
index c191e56d0f..68970581a5 100644
--- a/tasks/task_autodetect.c
+++ b/tasks/task_autodetect.c
@@ -173,8 +173,11 @@ static void input_autoconfigure_joypad_add(config_file_t *conf,
             string_is_empty(display_name) ? params->name : display_name,
             msg_hash_to_str(MSG_DEVICE_CONFIGURED_IN_PORT),
             params->idx);
+
+      /* allow overriding the swap menu controls for player 1*/
       if (params->idx == 0)
-         settings->input.swap_override = false;
+         config_get_bool(conf, "input_swap_override", &settings->input.swap_override);
+
       if (!block_osd_spam)
          task_set_title(task, strdup(msg));
    }