diff --git a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControllerInterface/SDL/SDL.cpp b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControllerInterface/SDL/SDL.cpp
index b3f2147ae3..0aa36f82dc 100644
--- a/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControllerInterface/SDL/SDL.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/InputCommon/ControllerInterface/SDL/SDL.cpp
@@ -246,6 +246,28 @@ void PopulateDevices()
 Joystick::Joystick(SDL_Joystick* const joystick, const int sdl_index)
     : m_joystick(joystick), m_name(StripSpaces(GetJoystickName(sdl_index)))
 {
+  // really bad HACKS:
+  // to not use SDL for an XInput device
+  // too many people on the forums pick the SDL device and ask:
+  // "why don't my 360 gamepad triggers/rumble work correctly"
+  // XXX x360 controllers _should_ work on modern SDL2, so it's unclear why they're
+  // still broken. Perhaps it's because we're not pumping window messages, which SDL seems to
+  // expect.
+#ifdef _WIN32
+  // checking the name is probably good (and hacky) enough
+  // but I'll double check with the num of buttons/axes
+  std::string lcasename = GetName();
+  Common::ToLower(&lcasename);
+
+  if ((std::string::npos != lcasename.find("xbox 360")) &&
+      (11 == SDL_JoystickNumButtons(joystick)) && (6 == SDL_JoystickNumAxes(joystick)) &&
+      (1 == SDL_JoystickNumHats(joystick)) && (0 == SDL_JoystickNumBalls(joystick)))
+  {
+    // this device won't be used
+    return;
+  }
+#endif
+
   if (SDL_JoystickNumButtons(joystick) > 255 || SDL_JoystickNumAxes(joystick) > 255 ||
       SDL_JoystickNumHats(joystick) > 255 || SDL_JoystickNumBalls(joystick) > 255)
   {