diff --git a/src/joystick/darwin/SDL_sysjoystick.c b/src/joystick/darwin/SDL_sysjoystick.c
--- a/src/joystick/darwin/SDL_sysjoystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/darwin/SDL_sysjoystick.c
@@ -705,7 +705,6 @@
     }
 
     if (device->removed) {      /* device was unplugged; ignore it. */
-        joystick->closed = 1;
         joystick->uncentered = 1;
         joystick->hwdata = NULL;
         return;