diff --git a/src/api/directinput/JoystickDirectInput.cpp b/src/api/directinput/JoystickDirectInput.cpp
index 2e0a3b7e..44eef79c 100644
--- a/src/api/directinput/JoystickDirectInput.cpp
+++ b/src/api/directinput/JoystickDirectInput.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ CJoystickDirectInput::CJoystickDirectInput(GUID                           device
 
 CJoystickDirectInput::~CJoystickDirectInput()
 {
+  if (m_joystickDevice)
+    m_joystickDevice->Unacquire();
+
   SAFE_RELEASE(m_joystickDevice);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/api/directinput/JoystickInterfaceDirectInput.cpp b/src/api/directinput/JoystickInterfaceDirectInput.cpp
index 793ae648..fb136842 100644
--- a/src/api/directinput/JoystickInterfaceDirectInput.cpp
+++ b/src/api/directinput/JoystickInterfaceDirectInput.cpp
@@ -142,6 +142,16 @@ BOOL CALLBACK CJoystickInterfaceDirectInput::EnumJoysticksCallback(const DIDEVIC
     return DIENUM_CONTINUE;
   }
 
+  // This will be done automatically when we're in the foreground but
+  // let's do it here to check that we can acquire it and that no other
+  // app has it in exclusive mode
+  hr = pJoystick->Acquire();
+  if (FAILED(hr))
+  {
+    esyslog("%s: Failed to acquire device on: %s", __FUNCTION__, pdidInstance->tszProductName);
+    return DIENUM_CONTINUE;
+  }
+
   const std::string strName = pdidInstance->tszProductName ? pdidInstance->tszProductName : "";
 
   context->AddScanResult(JoystickPtr(new CJoystickDirectInput(pdidInstance->guidInstance, pJoystick, strName)));