diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
index 3e0796be2f..a7348493f7 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@
 #endif
 #endif	// __WXGTK__
 
+#ifdef SDL_BUILD
+#include <SDL.h>
+#endif
+
 using namespace pxSizerFlags;
 
 void Pcsx2App::DetectCpuAndUserMode()
@@ -505,6 +509,12 @@ bool Pcsx2App::OnInit()
 		CleanupOnExit();
 		return false;
 	}
+
+#ifdef SDL_BUILD
+	// MacOS Game Controller framework requires a few runs of the main event loop after interest in game controllers is first indicated to connect controllers
+	// Since OnePad doesn't currently handle connection/disconnection events and requires controllers to be connected on start, we need to initialize SDL before OnePad looks at the controller list
+	SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_GAMECONTROLLER);
+#endif
 	return true;
 }