diff --git a/src/joystick/emscripten/SDL_sysjoystick.c b/src/joystick/emscripten/SDL_sysjoystick.c
index 902c91d00..4f9dffaaa 100644
--- a/src/joystick/emscripten/SDL_sysjoystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/emscripten/SDL_sysjoystick.c
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ static SDL_joylist_item *JoystickByIndex(int index);
 static SDL_joylist_item *SDL_joylist = NULL;
 static SDL_joylist_item *SDL_joylist_tail = NULL;
 static int numjoysticks = 0;
-static int instance_counter = 0;
 
 static EM_BOOL Emscripten_JoyStickConnected(int eventType, const EmscriptenGamepadEvent *gamepadEvent, void *userData)
 {
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ static EM_BOOL Emscripten_JoyStickConnected(int eventType, const EmscriptenGamep
 
     item->naxes = gamepadEvent->numAxes;
     item->nbuttons = gamepadEvent->numButtons;
-    item->device_instance = instance_counter++;
+    item->device_instance = SDL_GetNextJoystickInstanceID();
 
     item->timestamp = gamepadEvent->timestamp;
 
@@ -164,7 +163,6 @@ static void EMSCRIPTEN_JoystickQuit(void)
     SDL_joylist = SDL_joylist_tail = NULL;
 
     numjoysticks = 0;
-    instance_counter = 0;
 
     emscripten_set_gamepadconnected_callback(NULL, 0, NULL);
     emscripten_set_gamepaddisconnected_callback(NULL, 0, NULL);