diff --git a/src/core/hid/emulated_controller.cpp b/src/core/hid/emulated_controller.cpp
index ba1dcd171e..0684ab17bb 100644
--- a/src/core/hid/emulated_controller.cpp
+++ b/src/core/hid/emulated_controller.cpp
@@ -631,14 +631,11 @@ void EmulatedController::SetButton(const Common::Input::CallbackStatus& callback
 
     lock.unlock();
 
+    // Reconnect controller if input is detected
     if (!is_connected) {
-        if (npad_id_type == NpadIdType::Player1 && npad_type != NpadStyleIndex::Handheld) {
-            Connect();
-        }
-        if (npad_id_type == NpadIdType::Handheld && npad_type == NpadStyleIndex::Handheld) {
-            Connect();
-        }
+        TryReconnectController(index);
     }
+
     TriggerOnChange(ControllerTriggerType::Button, true);
 }
 
@@ -990,6 +987,33 @@ bool EmulatedController::IsControllerSupported(bool use_temporary_value) const {
         return false;
     }
 }
+void EmulatedController::TryReconnectController(std::size_t button_index) {
+    if (button_index >= button_params.size()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const auto engine = button_params[button_index].Get("engine", "");
+    bool reconnect_controller = false;
+
+    // TAS is not allowed to turn on controllers
+    if (engine == "tas") {
+        return;
+    }
+    // Only connect the controller if button config is custom
+    if (engine != "keyboard") {
+        reconnect_controller = true;
+    }
+    if (npad_id_type == NpadIdType::Player1 && npad_type != NpadStyleIndex::Handheld) {
+        reconnect_controller = true;
+    }
+    if (npad_id_type == NpadIdType::Handheld && npad_type == NpadStyleIndex::Handheld) {
+        reconnect_controller = true;
+    }
+
+    if (reconnect_controller) {
+        Connect();
+    }
+}
 
 void EmulatedController::Connect(bool use_temporary_value) {
     if (!IsControllerSupported(use_temporary_value)) {
diff --git a/src/core/hid/emulated_controller.h b/src/core/hid/emulated_controller.h
index 3f02ed3c07..dd7d0386c1 100644
--- a/src/core/hid/emulated_controller.h
+++ b/src/core/hid/emulated_controller.h
@@ -166,6 +166,12 @@ public:
      */
     void SetSupportedNpadStyleTag(NpadStyleTag supported_styles);
 
+    /**
+     * Tries to turn on the controller if a button is pressed
+     * @param button_index index to verify if controller should be connected
+     */
+    void TryReconnectController(std::size_t button_index);
+
     /**
      * Sets the connected status to true
      * @param use_temporary_value If true tmp_npad_type will be used