diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/mouse_config.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/mouse_config.cpp
index d299e43dfd..b7dcec7e59 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/mouse_config.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/mouse_config.cpp
@@ -19,9 +19,14 @@ bool mouse_config::exist() const
 
 bool mouse_config::load()
 {
+	g_cfg_mouse.from_default();
+
 	if (fs::file cfg_file{cfg_name, fs::read})
 	{
-		return from_string(cfg_file.to_string());
+		if (const std::string content = cfg_file.to_string(); !content.empty())
+		{
+			return from_string(content);
+		}
 	}
 
 	return false;
diff --git a/rpcs3/Input/basic_mouse_handler.cpp b/rpcs3/Input/basic_mouse_handler.cpp
index b0440f22b9..35a53bc2c0 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Input/basic_mouse_handler.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Input/basic_mouse_handler.cpp
@@ -20,8 +20,12 @@ void basic_mouse_handler::Init(const u32 max_connect)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	g_cfg_mouse.from_default();
-	g_cfg_mouse.load();
+	if (!g_cfg_mouse.load())
+	{
+		input_log.notice("basic_mouse_handler: Could not load basic mouse config. Using defaults.");
+	}
+
+	g_cfg_mouse.reload_requested = true;
 
 	reload_config();
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/Input/raw_mouse_handler.cpp b/rpcs3/Input/raw_mouse_handler.cpp
index f69e832b33..0d622a29cd 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Input/raw_mouse_handler.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Input/raw_mouse_handler.cpp
@@ -267,6 +267,8 @@ void raw_mouse_handler::Init(const u32 max_connect)
 		input_log.notice("raw_mouse_handler: Could not load raw mouse config. Using defaults.");
 	}
 
+	g_cfg_raw_mouse.reload_requested = true;
+
 	m_mice.clear();
 	m_mice.resize(max_connect);