diff --git a/kcms/hardware/joystick/joydevice.cpp b/kcms/hardware/joystick/joydevice.cpp
--- a/kcms/hardware/joystick/joydevice.cpp
+++ b/kcms/hardware/joystick/joydevice.cpp
@@ -184,6 +184,10 @@
     return JoyDevice::ERR_GET_CORR;
   }
 
+  if (bt < 0) {
+      return JoyDevice::ERR_GET_BUTTONS;
+  }
+
   descr = name;
   joyFd = fd;
   axes = ax;