diff --git a/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c b/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
--- a/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
@@ -668,7 +668,10 @@
 
         SDL_SYS_JoystickUpdate(joystick);
 
-        if (joystick->closed && joystick->uncentered) {
+        /* if the joystick's hwdata is invalid and it is uncentered, it means the device
+         * was removed but maybe it is not closed
+         */
+        if ((joystick->closed || joystick->hwdata == NULL) && joystick->uncentered) {
             int i;
 
             /* Tell the app that everything is centered/unpressed...  */
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;