diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 65e4c2a0f..4fdb00648 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ static void G_HandleAxisDeadZone(UINT8 splitnum, joystickvector2_t *joystickvect
 		joystickvector->yaxis = min(joystickvector->yaxis, JOYAXISRANGE);
 		joystickvector->yaxis = max(joystickvector->yaxis, -JOYAXISRANGE);
 
-		if (joystickvector->xaxis >= deadZone)
+		if (joystickvector->xaxis <= -deadZone)
 			joystickvector->xaxis = 0;
 		if (joystickvector->yaxis <= deadZone)
 			joystickvector->yaxis = 0;