diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index 433e95f56..64470cefb 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -378,8 +378,6 @@ static void P_DeviceRumbleTick(void)
 		UINT16 low = 0;
 		UINT16 high = 0;
 
-		player_t *player = ((i == 0) ? &players[consoleplayer] : &players[displayplayers[i]]);
-
 		if (!cv_usejoystick[i].value)
 		{
 			continue;
@@ -390,6 +388,8 @@ static void P_DeviceRumbleTick(void)
 			continue;
 		}
 
+		player_t *player = ((i == 0) ? &players[consoleplayer] : &players[displayplayers[i]]);
+
 		if (player->spectator)
 		{
 			continue;