diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d8872e162..8efb90436 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -460,6 +460,7 @@ IF(NOT WIN32 AND NOT APPLE)
     INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/settings-default.cfg" DESTINATION "${SYSCONFDIR}" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "openmw")
     INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/transparency-overrides.cfg" DESTINATION "${SYSCONFDIR}" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "openmw")
     INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/openmw.cfg.install" DESTINATION "${SYSCONFDIR}" RENAME "openmw.cfg" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "openmw")
+    INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/gamecontrollerdb.txt" DESTINATION "${SYSCONFDIR}" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "openmw")
     IF(BUILD_OPENCS)
         INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/opencs.ini" DESTINATION "${SYSCONFDIR}" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "opencs")
     ENDIF(BUILD_OPENCS)
@@ -479,6 +480,7 @@ if(WIN32)
         "${OpenMW_SOURCE_DIR}/Docs/license/DejaVu Font License.txt"
         "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/settings-default.cfg"
         "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/transparency-overrides.cfg"
+        "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/gamecontrollerdb.txt"
         "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/Release/openmw.exe"
         DESTINATION ".")
 
@@ -750,6 +752,7 @@ if (APPLE)
     install(DIRECTORY "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/resources" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_SUBDIR}" COMPONENT Runtime)
     install(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/openmw.cfg.install" RENAME "openmw.cfg" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_SUBDIR}" COMPONENT Runtime)
     install(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/settings-default.cfg" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_SUBDIR}" COMPONENT Runtime)
+    install(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/gamecontrollerdb.txt" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_SUBDIR}" COMPONENT Runtime)
     install(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/transparency-overrides.cfg" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_SUBDIR}" COMPONENT Runtime)
     install(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/opencs.ini" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_SUBDIR}" COMPONENT Runtime)
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
index 0e636e054..9c485c2af 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
@@ -368,7 +368,19 @@ void OMW::Engine::prepareEngine (Settings::Manager & settings)
 
     std::string keybinderUser = (mCfgMgr.getUserConfigPath() / "input_v2.xml").string();
     bool keybinderUserExists = boost::filesystem::exists(keybinderUser);
-    MWInput::InputManager* input = new MWInput::InputManager (*mOgre, *this, keybinderUser, keybinderUserExists, mGrab);
+
+    // find correct path to the game controller bindings
+    const std::string localdefault = mCfgMgr.getLocalPath().string() + "/gamecontrollerdb.cfg";
+    const std::string globaldefault = mCfgMgr.getGlobalPath().string() + "/gamecontrollerdb.cfg";
+    std::string gameControllerdb;
+    if (boost::filesystem::exists(localdefault))
+        gameControllerdb = localdefault;
+    else if (boost::filesystem::exists(globaldefault))
+        gameControllerdb = globaldefault;
+    else
+        gameControllerdb = ""; //if it doesn't exist, pass in an empty string
+
+    MWInput::InputManager* input = new MWInput::InputManager (*mOgre, *this, keybinderUser, keybinderUserExists, gameControllerdb, mGrab);
     mEnvironment.setInputManager (input);
 
     MWGui::WindowManager* window = new MWGui::WindowManager(
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.cpp
index 76d0b877a..05ce62374 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ namespace MWInput
 {
     InputManager::InputManager(OEngine::Render::OgreRenderer &ogre,
             OMW::Engine& engine,
-            const std::string& userFile, bool userFileExists, bool grab)
+            const std::string& userFile, bool userFileExists,
+            const std::string& controllerBindingsFile, bool grab)
         : mOgre(ogre)
         , mPlayer(NULL)
         , mEngine(engine)
@@ -160,19 +161,9 @@ namespace MWInput
 
 		//Load controller mappings
 #if SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(2,0,2)
-        Files::ConfigurationManager cfgMgr;
-        std::string db = cfgMgr.getLocalPath().string() + "/gamecontrollerdb.txt";
-        if(boost::filesystem::exists(db))
+        if(controllerBindingsFile!="")
         {
-            int res = SDL_GameControllerAddMappingsFromFile(db.c_str());
-            if(res == -1)
-            {
-                //ICS_LOG(std::string("Error loading controller bindings: ")+SDL_GetError());
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                //ICS_LOG(std::string("Loaded ")+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(res)+" Game controller bindings");
-            }
+            SDL_GameControllerAddMappingsFromFile(controllerBindingsFile.c_str());
         }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.hpp
index e8ee955e2..a72275a9c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.hpp
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ namespace MWInput
     public:
         InputManager(OEngine::Render::OgreRenderer &_ogre,
             OMW::Engine& engine,
-            const std::string& userFile, bool userFileExists, bool grab);
+            const std::string& userFile, bool userFileExists,
+            const std::string& controllerBindingsFile, bool grab);
 
         virtual ~InputManager();