diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/input/PadBridge.java b/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/input/PadBridge.java
index a626d8600..cfb0978cb 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/input/PadBridge.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/input/PadBridge.java
@@ -117,6 +117,16 @@ public final class PadBridge {
         if (changed && !on) resetBuiltin();
     }
 
+    private static volatile int firstSlot;
+
+    public static void setFirstSlot(int slot) {
+        firstSlot = slot;
+    }
+
+    private int firstPlayerSlot() {
+        return firstSlot;
+    }
+
     private void resetBuiltin() {
         routedTouch.clear();
         systemGuidePressed = false;
@@ -252,7 +262,9 @@ public final class PadBridge {
     public synchronized void syncConnectedControllers() {
         for (int deviceId : InputDevice.getDeviceIds()) {
             InputDevice device = InputDevice.getDevice(deviceId);
-            if (isFromController(device) && !excluded.test(deviceId)) publish(slotFor(device));
+            if (!isFromController(device) || excluded.test(deviceId)) continue;
+            int slot = slotFor(device);
+            if (slot >= 0) publish(slot);
         }
     }
 
@@ -272,6 +284,7 @@ public final class PadBridge {
     public synchronized boolean onKeyEvent(KeyEvent event) {
         if (!isControllerKeyEvent(event) || excluded.test(event.getDeviceId())) return false;
         int slot = slotFor(event.getDevice());
+        if (slot < 0) return false;
         int side = JoyCon.side(event.getDevice());
         if (side >= 0 && partners[slot] != NO_CONTROLLER && JoyCon.isRail(side, event.getScanCode())) return true;
         PadState pad = stateFor(slot);
@@ -320,6 +333,7 @@ public final class PadBridge {
         if (!isControllerMotionEvent(event) || excluded.test(event.getDeviceId())) return false;
         if (event.getAction() != MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE) return false;
         int slot = slotFor(event.getDevice());
+        if (slot < 0) return false;
         PadState pad = stateFor(slot);
         noteDevice(event.getDevice(), slot);
         statAxes++;
@@ -534,25 +548,25 @@ public final class PadBridge {
             if (owners[slot] != NO_CONTROLLER && InputDevice.getDevice(owners[slot]) == null) leave(slot, owners[slot]);
         }
         int side = JoyCon.side(device);
-        for (int slot = 0; side >= 0 && slot < SLOTS; slot++) {
+        for (int slot = firstPlayerSlot(); side >= 0 && slot < SLOTS; slot++) {
             if (owners[slot] == NO_CONTROLLER || partners[slot] != NO_CONTROLLER) continue;
             InputDevice owner = InputDevice.getDevice(owners[slot]);
             if (JoyCon.side(owner) != 1 - side) continue;
             partners[slot] = id;
             slotJoyCons.set(slot * 2 + side, id);
             slotJoyCons.set(slot * 2 + 1 - side, owner.getId());
-            if (slot == 0) releaseBackPaddles();
+            if (slot == firstPlayerSlot()) releaseBackPaddles();
             stateFor(slot).clear();
             Log.i(TAG, "\"" + device.getName() + "\" (id " + id + ") joins \"" + owner.getName() + "\" as player " + (slot + 1));
             return slot;
         }
-        for (int slot = 0; slot < SLOTS; slot++) {
+        for (int slot = firstPlayerSlot(); slot < SLOTS; slot++) {
             if (owners[slot] != NO_CONTROLLER) continue;
             owners[slot] = id;
             Log.i(TAG, "\"" + device.getName() + "\" (id " + id + ") is player " + (slot + 1));
             return slot;
         }
-        return 0;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     private PadState stateFor(int slot) {
@@ -561,7 +575,8 @@ public final class PadBridge {
 
     private boolean isPrimary(KeyEvent event) {
         int id = event.getDevice().getId();
-        return owners[0] == id || partners[0] == id;
+        int first = firstPlayerSlot();
+        return owners[first] == id || partners[first] == id;
     }
 
     private void releaseBackPaddles() {
@@ -580,7 +595,7 @@ public final class PadBridge {
         clearJoyCons(slot);
         if (slotControllers.get(slot) == id) slotControllers.set(slot, owners[slot]);
         if (activeControllerId == id) activeControllerId = owners[slot];
-        if (slot == 0) releaseBackPaddles();
+        if (slot == firstPlayerSlot()) releaseBackPaddles();
         stateFor(slot).clear();
         publish(slot);
     }
@@ -596,8 +611,8 @@ public final class PadBridge {
         partners[slot] = NO_CONTROLLER;
         clearJoyCons(slot);
         slotControllers.set(slot, NO_CONTROLLER);
+        if (slot == firstPlayerSlot()) releaseBackPaddles();
         if (slot == 0) {
-            releaseBackPaddles();
             state.clear();
             publish();
             return;
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/session/SessionService.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/session/SessionService.kt
index c1b0ab86d..fd9d77270 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/session/SessionService.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/session/SessionService.kt
@@ -714,7 +714,9 @@ class SessionService : Service() {
     private fun addControllerEnvironment(guest: MutableList<String>, fakeInputDir: File, sessionDir: File) {
         FakeInputWriter.prepareRingSlots(fakeInputDir, 4)
         val builtinPad = SessionPrefs.builtinPad(this)
-        val hiddenPad = SessionState.mode == MODE_STEAM && !builtinPad
+        val hiddenPad = SessionState.mode == MODE_STEAM && !builtinPad &&
+            !com.droiddeck.launcher.input.PadBridge.anyControllerConnected()
+        com.droiddeck.launcher.input.PadBridge.setFirstSlot(if (hiddenPad) 1 else 0)
         fakeInputDir.listFiles()?.forEach { file ->
             val node = Regex("event(\\d+)").matchEntire(file.name)?.groupValues?.get(1)?.toIntOrNull()
             if (file.name.startsWith(".uinput-") || (node != null && node >= FIRST_VIRTUAL_PAD) ||