diff --git a/src/wx/panel.cpp b/src/wx/panel.cpp
index 0d866993..1f946d7c 100644
--- a/src/wx/panel.cpp
+++ b/src/wx/panel.cpp
@@ -1070,6 +1070,8 @@ void GameArea::OnIdle(wxIdleEvent& event)
         w->SetFocus();
     }
 
+    mf->PollJoysticks();
+
     if (!paused) {
         HidePointer();
         event.RequestMore();
@@ -1102,8 +1104,6 @@ void GameArea::OnIdle(wxIdleEvent& event)
             SetExtraStyle(GetExtraStyle() & ~wxWS_EX_PROCESS_IDLE);
     }
 
-    mf->PollJoysticks();
-
     if (do_rewind && emusys->emuWriteMemState) {
         if (!rewind_mem) {
             rewind_mem = (char*)malloc(NUM_REWINDS * REWIND_SIZE);