diff --git a/src/devices/bus/a2gameio/gameio.h b/src/devices/bus/a2gameio/gameio.h
index e160fc7aa1e..7ff1771b17b 100644
--- a/src/devices/bus/a2gameio/gameio.h
+++ b/src/devices/bus/a2gameio/gameio.h
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ public:
 	// utility strobe (active low)
 	DECLARE_WRITE_LINE_MEMBER(strobe_w);
 
+	// check if a device is connected
+	bool is_device_connected() { return (m_intf != nullptr); }
+
 protected:
 	// device-level overrides
 	virtual void device_config_complete() override;
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/apple2.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/apple2.cpp
index b275a9b8c7c..a3866e85930 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/apple2.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/apple2.cpp
@@ -646,15 +646,19 @@ u8 apple2_state::flags_r(offs_t offset)
 		return (m_gameio->sw2_r() ? 0x80 : 0) | (read_floatingbus() & 0x7f);
 
 	case 4:  // joy 1 X axis
+		if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 		return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_x1_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 	case 5:  // joy 1 Y axis
+		if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 		return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_y1_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 	case 6: // joy 2 X axis
+		if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 		return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_x2_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 	case 7: // joy 2 Y axis
+		if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 		return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_y2_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/apple2e.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/apple2e.cpp
index d2f6a86cd13..52826b35be4 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/apple2e.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/apple2e.cpp
@@ -1999,18 +1999,22 @@ u8 apple2e_state::c000_r(offs_t offset)
 
 		case 0x64:  // joy 1 X axis
 		case 0x6c:
+			if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 			return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_x1_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x65:  // joy 1 Y axis
 		case 0x6d:
+			if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 			return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_y1_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x66: // joy 2 X axis
 		case 0x6e:
+			if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 			return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_x2_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x67: // joy 2 Y axis
 		case 0x6f:
+			if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 			return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_y2_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x7e:  // read IOUDIS
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/apple2gs.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/apple2gs.cpp
index 39cbfdaf7ae..61edd2ce1b0 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/apple2gs.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/apple2gs.cpp
@@ -2567,15 +2567,19 @@ u8 apple2gs_state::c000_r(offs_t offset)
 			return ((m_gameio->sw2_r() || (m_kbspecial->read() & 0x06)) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x64:  // joy 1 X axis
+			if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 			return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_x1_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x65:  // joy 1 Y axis
+			if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 			return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_y1_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x66: // joy 2 X axis
+			if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 			return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_x2_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x67: // joy 2 Y axis
+			if (!m_gameio->is_device_connected()) return 0x80 | uFloatingBus7;
 			return ((machine().time().as_double() < m_joystick_y2_time) ? 0x80 : 0) | uFloatingBus7;
 
 		case 0x68: // STATEREG, synthesizes all the IIe state regs