diff --git a/platform/macos/joypad_macos.mm b/platform/macos/joypad_macos.mm
index 2420bd73fb0..8cd5cdd9f27 100644
--- a/platform/macos/joypad_macos.mm
+++ b/platform/macos/joypad_macos.mm
@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@
 JoypadMacOS::JoypadMacOS() {
 	observer = [[JoypadMacOSObserver alloc] init];
 	[observer startObserving];
+
+	if (@available(macOS 11.3, *)) {
+		GCController.shouldMonitorBackgroundEvents = YES;
+	}
 }
 
 JoypadMacOS::~JoypadMacOS() {