diff --git a/src/haptic/windows/SDL_syshaptic.c b/src/haptic/windows/SDL_syshaptic.c
index 6be0e4dcf..59f745668 100644
--- a/src/haptic/windows/SDL_syshaptic.c
+++ b/src/haptic/windows/SDL_syshaptic.c
@@ -221,6 +221,10 @@ DirectInputHaptic_MaybeAddDevice(const DIDEVICEINSTANCE * pdidInstance)
     DIDEVCAPS capabilities;
     SDL_hapticlist_item *item = NULL;
 
+    if (dinput == NULL) {
+        return -1;  /* not initialized. We'll pick these up on enumeration if we init later. */
+    }
+
     /* Make sure we don't already have it */
     for (item = SDL_hapticlist; item; item = item->next) {
         if ( (!item->bXInputHaptic) && (SDL_memcmp(&item->instance, pdidInstance, sizeof (*pdidInstance)) == 0) ) {
@@ -286,6 +290,10 @@ DirectInputHaptic_MaybeRemoveDevice(const DIDEVICEINSTANCE * pdidInstance)
     SDL_hapticlist_item *item;
     SDL_hapticlist_item *prev = NULL;
 
+    if (dinput == NULL) {
+        return -1;  /* not initialized, ignore this. */
+    }
+
     for (item = SDL_hapticlist; item != NULL; item = item->next) {
         if ( (!item->bXInputHaptic) && (SDL_memcmp(&item->instance, pdidInstance, sizeof (*pdidInstance)) == 0) ) {
             /* found it, remove it. */