diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 5d72836bc..495f06de7 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ Misc:
  - Core: Suspend runloop when a core crashes
  - Qt: Rearrange menus some
  - Qt: Clean up cheats dialog
+ - Qt: Only set default controller bindings if loading fails (fixes mgba.io/i/799)
  - Util: Improve speed of UPS patch loading
 
 0.9.1: (2021-04-18)
diff --git a/include/mgba/core/input.h b/include/mgba/core/input.h
index e5f64d72a..f7ef212a5 100644
--- a/include/mgba/core/input.h
+++ b/include/mgba/core/input.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ bool mInputQueryHat(const struct mInputMap*, uint32_t type, int id, struct mInpu
 void mInputUnbindHat(struct mInputMap*, uint32_t type, int id);
 void mInputUnbindAllHats(struct mInputMap*, uint32_t type);
 
-void mInputMapLoad(struct mInputMap*, uint32_t type, const struct Configuration*);
+bool mInputMapLoad(struct mInputMap*, uint32_t type, const struct Configuration*);
 void mInputMapSave(const struct mInputMap*, uint32_t type, struct Configuration*);
 
 bool mInputProfileLoad(struct mInputMap*, uint32_t type, const struct Configuration*, const char* profile);
diff --git a/src/core/input.c b/src/core/input.c
index c143805ac..76296a373 100644
--- a/src/core/input.c
+++ b/src/core/input.c
@@ -578,10 +578,10 @@ void mInputUnbindAllHats(struct mInputMap* map, uint32_t type) {
 	}
 }
 
-void mInputMapLoad(struct mInputMap* map, uint32_t type, const struct Configuration* config) {
+bool mInputMapLoad(struct mInputMap* map, uint32_t type, const struct Configuration* config) {
 	char sectionName[SECTION_NAME_MAX];
 	_makeSectionName(map->info->platformName, sectionName, SECTION_NAME_MAX, type);
-	_loadAll(map, type, sectionName, config);
+	return _loadAll(map, type, sectionName, config);
 }
 
 void mInputMapSave(const struct mInputMap* map, uint32_t type, struct Configuration* config) {
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/InputController.cpp b/src/platform/qt/InputController.cpp
index 0c5a848c1..9a8458e1d 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/InputController.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/qt/InputController.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ InputController::InputController(int playerId, QWidget* topLevel, QObject* paren
 	}
 	++s_sdlInited;
 	m_sdlPlayer.bindings = &m_inputMap;
-	mSDLInitBindingsGBA(&m_inputMap);
 	updateJoysticks();
 #endif
 
@@ -163,23 +162,28 @@ void InputController::setConfiguration(ConfigController* config) {
 	if (!m_playerAttached) {
 		m_playerAttached = mSDLAttachPlayer(&s_sdlEvents, &m_sdlPlayer);
 	}
-	loadConfiguration(SDL_BINDING_BUTTON);
+	if (!loadConfiguration(SDL_BINDING_BUTTON)) {
+		mSDLInitBindingsGBA(&m_inputMap);
+	}
 	loadProfile(SDL_BINDING_BUTTON, profileForType(SDL_BINDING_BUTTON));
 #endif
 }
 
-void InputController::loadConfiguration(uint32_t type) {
-	mInputMapLoad(&m_inputMap, type, m_config->input());
+bool InputController::loadConfiguration(uint32_t type) {
+	if (!mInputMapLoad(&m_inputMap, type, m_config->input())) {
+		return false;
+	}
 #ifdef BUILD_SDL
 	if (m_playerAttached) {
 		mSDLPlayerLoadConfig(&m_sdlPlayer, m_config->input());
 	}
 #endif
+	return true;
 }
 
-void InputController::loadProfile(uint32_t type, const QString& profile) {
+bool InputController::loadProfile(uint32_t type, const QString& profile) {
 	if (profile.isEmpty()) {
-		return;
+		return false;
 	}
 	bool loaded = mInputProfileLoad(&m_inputMap, type, m_config->input(), profile.toUtf8().constData());
 	recalibrateAxes();
@@ -187,9 +191,11 @@ void InputController::loadProfile(uint32_t type, const QString& profile) {
 		const InputProfile* ip = InputProfile::findProfile(profile);
 		if (ip) {
 			ip->apply(this);
+			loaded = true;
 		}
 	}
 	emit profileLoaded(profile);
+	return loaded;
 }
 
 void InputController::saveConfiguration() {
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/InputController.h b/src/platform/qt/InputController.h
index 93f77091f..a370ba80e 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/InputController.h
+++ b/src/platform/qt/InputController.h
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ public:
 
 	void setConfiguration(ConfigController* config);
 	void saveConfiguration();
-	void loadConfiguration(uint32_t type);
-	void loadProfile(uint32_t type, const QString& profile);
+	bool loadConfiguration(uint32_t type);
+	bool loadProfile(uint32_t type, const QString& profile);
 	void saveConfiguration(uint32_t type);
 	void saveProfile(uint32_t type, const QString& profile);
 	const char* profileForType(uint32_t type);