diff --git a/src/joystick/linux/SDL_sysjoystick.c b/src/joystick/linux/SDL_sysjoystick.c
index f56979362..7306ecbaf 100644
--- a/src/joystick/linux/SDL_sysjoystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/linux/SDL_sysjoystick.c
@@ -829,7 +829,11 @@ LINUX_JoystickRumble(SDL_Joystick * joystick, Uint16 low_frequency_rumble, Uint1
     }
 
     if (ioctl(joystick->hwdata->fd, EVIOCSFF, &joystick->hwdata->effect) < 0) {
-        return SDL_SetError("Couldn't update rumble effect: %s", strerror(errno));
+        /* The kernel may have lost this effect, try to allocate a new one */
+        joystick->hwdata->effect.id = -1;
+        if (ioctl(joystick->hwdata->fd, EVIOCSFF, &joystick->hwdata->effect) < 0) {
+            return SDL_SetError("Couldn't update rumble effect: %s", strerror(errno));
+        }
     }
 
     event.type = EV_FF;