diff --git a/app_pojavlauncher/src/main/java/net/kdt/pojavlaunch/prefs/LauncherPreferences.java b/app_pojavlauncher/src/main/java/net/kdt/pojavlaunch/prefs/LauncherPreferences.java
index 057af9133..5d878c831 100644
--- a/app_pojavlauncher/src/main/java/net/kdt/pojavlaunch/prefs/LauncherPreferences.java
+++ b/app_pojavlauncher/src/main/java/net/kdt/pojavlaunch/prefs/LauncherPreferences.java
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@ public class LauncherPreferences {
         PREF_MOUSESPEED = ((float)DEFAULT_PREF.getInt("mousespeed",100))/100f;
         PREF_IGNORE_NOTCH = DEFAULT_PREF.getBoolean("ignoreNotch", false);
 		PREF_LONGPRESS_TRIGGER = DEFAULT_PREF.getInt("timeLongPressTrigger", 300);
-		PREF_DEFAULTCTRL_PATH = DEFAULT_PREF.getString("defaultCtrl", Tools.CTRLDEF_FILE);
         PREF_FORCE_ENGLISH = DEFAULT_PREF.getBoolean("force_english", false);
         PREF_CHECK_LIBRARY_SHA = DEFAULT_PREF.getBoolean("checkLibraries",true);
         PREF_DISABLE_GESTURES = DEFAULT_PREF.getBoolean("disableGestures",false);
@@ -124,6 +123,10 @@ public class LauncherPreferences {
         PREF_MOUSE_GRAB_FORCE = DEFAULT_PREF.getBoolean("always_grab_mouse", false);
         PREF_KEYBOARD_PANNING = DEFAULT_PREF.getBoolean("keyboardPanning", true);
 
+        // User may have deleted their default control
+        String userDefCtrl = DEFAULT_PREF.getString("defaultCtrl", Tools.CTRLDEF_FILE);
+        PREF_DEFAULTCTRL_PATH = FileUtils.exists(userDefCtrl) ? userDefCtrl : Tools.CTRLDEF_FILE;
+
         String argLwjglLibname = "-Dorg.lwjgl.opengl.libname=";
         for (String arg : JREUtils.parseJavaArguments(PREF_CUSTOM_JAVA_ARGS)) {
             if (arg.startsWith(argLwjglLibname)) {