--- a/src/joystick/emscripten/SDL_sysjoystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/emscripten/SDL_sysjoystick.c
@@ -653,6 +653,14 @@
                     if (item->hat_is_axis && i == 9) {
                         continue;  // this axis is a hat
                     }
+                    // An axis SDL has no value for yet rests where it was:
+                    // report that first. Without it SDL takes the first
+                    // value an axis reports as its rest and drops it, so a
+                    // stick's first push each way was lost. (Other drivers
+                    // report the axes' values when the device is opened.)
+                    if (!joystick->axes[i].has_initial_value) {
+                        SDL_SendJoystickAxis(timestamp, item->joystick, i, (Sint16)(32767.0f * item->axis[i]));
+                    }
                     if (item->axis[i] != gamepadState.axis[i]) {
                         SDL_SendJoystickAxis(timestamp, item->joystick, i, (Sint16)(32767.0f * gamepadState.axis[i]));
                         item->axis[i] = gamepadState.axis[i];