diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4eb3f693..ea52e825 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ Given the high speed of development in the first phase, changes are being report
   
 - Support for custom MQTT timeout on all the `zwavejs2mqtt` calls.
 
+- Added generic joystick backend `backend.joystick.jstest` which uses `jstest` from the
+  standard `joystick` system package to read the state of joysticks not compatible with
+  `python-inputs`.
+
 ### Changed
 
 - `switch.switchbot` plugin renamed to `switchbot.bluetooth` plugin, while the new plugin
diff --git a/docs/source/backends.rst b/docs/source/backends.rst
index 5a48aee4..df729be9 100644
--- a/docs/source/backends.rst
+++ b/docs/source/backends.rst
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ Backends
     platypush/backend/http.poll.rst
     platypush/backend/inotify.rst
     platypush/backend/joystick.rst
+    platypush/backend/joystick.jstest.rst
     platypush/backend/kafka.rst
     platypush/backend/light.hue.rst
     platypush/backend/linode.rst
diff --git a/docs/source/platypush/backend/joystick.jstest.rst b/docs/source/platypush/backend/joystick.jstest.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb4dad58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/source/platypush/backend/joystick.jstest.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+``platypush.backend.joystick.jstest``
+=====================================
+
+.. automodule:: platypush.backend.joystick.jstest
+    :members:
diff --git a/platypush/backend/joystick.py b/platypush/backend/joystick/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from platypush/backend/joystick.py
rename to platypush/backend/joystick/__init__.py
diff --git a/platypush/backend/joystick/jstest.py b/platypush/backend/joystick/jstest.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae4f4140
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platypush/backend/joystick/jstest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import subprocess
+import time
+from typing import Optional, List
+
+from platypush.backend.joystick import JoystickBackend
+from platypush.message.event.joystick import JoystickConnectedEvent, JoystickDisconnectedEvent, JoystickStateEvent, \
+    JoystickButtonPressedEvent, JoystickButtonReleasedEvent, JoystickAxisEvent
+
+
+class JoystickState:
+    def __init__(self, axes: List[int], buttons: List[bool]):
+        self.axes = axes
+        self.buttons = buttons
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return json.dumps(self.__dict__)
+
+    def __eq__(self, obj):
+        return obj.axes == self.axes and obj.buttons == self.buttons
+
+    def __sub__(self, obj) -> dict:
+        diff = {
+            'axes': {
+                axis: obj.axes[axis]
+                for axis in range(len(self.axes))
+                if self.axes[axis] != obj.axes[axis]
+            },
+            'buttons': {
+                button: obj.buttons[button]
+                for button in range(len(self.buttons))
+                if self.buttons[button] != obj.buttons[button]
+            },
+        }
+
+        return {
+            k: v for k, v in diff.items() if v
+        }
+
+
+class JoystickJstestBackend(JoystickBackend):
+    """
+    This backend can be used to intercept events from a joystick device if the device does not work with the standard
+    :class:`platypush.backend.joystick.JoystickBackend` backend (this may especially happen with some Bluetooth
+    joysticks that don't support the ``ioctl`` requests used by ``inputs``).
+
+    This backend only works on Linux and it requires the ``joystick`` package to be installed.
+
+    Instructions on Debian-based distros::
+
+        # apt-get install joystick
+
+    Instructions on Arch-based distros::
+
+        # pacman -S joyutils
+
+    To test if your joystick is compatible, connect it to your device, check for its path (usually under
+    ``/dev/input/js*``) and run::
+
+        $ jstest /dev/input/js[n]
+
+    Triggers:
+
+        * :class:`platypush.message.event.joystick.JoystickConnectedEvent` when the joystick is connected.
+        * :class:`platypush.message.event.joystick.JoystickDisconnectedEvent` when the joystick is disconnected.
+        * :class:`platypush.message.event.joystick.JoystickStateEvent` when the state of the joystick (i.e. some of its
+            axes or buttons values) changes.
+        * :class:`platypush.message.event.joystick.JoystickButtonPressedEvent` when a joystick button is pressed.
+        * :class:`platypush.message.event.joystick.JoystickButtonReleasedEvent` when a joystick button is released.
+        * :class:`platypush.message.event.joystick.JoystickAxisEvent` when an axis value of the joystick changes.
+
+    """
+
+    js_axes_regex = re.compile(r'Axes:\s+(((\d+):\s*([\-\d]+)\s*)+)')
+    js_buttons_regex = re.compile(r'Buttons:\s+(((\d+):\s*(on|off)\s*)+)')
+    js_axis_regex = re.compile(r'^\s*(\d+):\s*([\-\d]+)\s*(.*)')
+    js_button_regex = re.compile(r'^\s*(\d+):\s*(on|off)\s*(.*)')
+
+    def __init__(self,
+                 device: str = '/dev/input/js0',
+                 jstest_path: str = '/usr/bin/jstest',
+                 **kwargs):
+        """
+        :param device: Path to the joystick device (default: ``/dev/input/js0``).
+        :param jstest_path: Path to the ``jstest`` executable that comes with the ``joystick`` system package
+            (default: ``/usr/bin/jstest``).
+        """
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+
+        self.device_path = device
+        self.jstest_path = jstest_path
+        self._process: Optional[subprocess.Popen] = None
+        self._state: Optional[JoystickState] = None
+
+    def _wait_ready(self):
+        self.logger.info(f'Waiting for joystick device on {self.device_path}')
+
+        while not self.should_stop() or not os.path.exists(self.device_path):
+            time.sleep(1)
+
+        if self.should_stop():
+            return
+
+        self.bus.post(JoystickConnectedEvent(device=self.device))
+
+    def _read_states(self):
+        while not self.should_stop():
+            yield self._get_state()
+
+    def _get_state(self) -> JoystickState:
+        axes = []
+        buttons = []
+        line = ''
+
+        while not self.should_stop():
+            ch = self._process.stdout.read(1).decode()
+            if not ch:
+                continue
+
+            if ch in ['\r', '\n']:
+                line = ''
+                continue
+
+            line += ch
+            if line.endswith('Axes:  '):
+                break
+
+        while not self.should_stop() and len(axes) < len(self._state.axes):
+            ch = ' '
+            while ch == ' ':
+                ch = self._process.stdout.read(1).decode()
+
+            self._process.stdout.read(len(f'{len(axes)}'))
+            value = ''
+
+            while not self.should_stop():
+                ch = self._process.stdout.read(1).decode()
+                if ch == ' ':
+                    if not value:
+                        continue
+                    break
+
+                if ch == ':':
+                    break
+
+                value += ch
+
+            if value:
+                axes.append(int(value))
+
+        line = ''
+
+        while not self.should_stop():
+            ch = self._process.stdout.read(1).decode()
+            if not ch:
+                continue
+
+            line += ch
+            if line.endswith('Buttons:  '):
+                break
+
+        while not self.should_stop() and len(buttons) < len(self._state.buttons):
+            ch = ' '
+            while ch == ' ':
+                ch = self._process.stdout.read(1).decode()
+
+            self._process.stdout.read(len(f'{len(buttons)}'))
+            value = ''
+
+            while not self.should_stop():
+                ch = self._process.stdout.read(1).decode()
+                if ch == ' ':
+                    continue
+
+                value += ch
+                if value in ['on', 'off']:
+                    buttons.append(value == 'on')
+                    break
+
+        return JoystickState(axes=axes, buttons=buttons)
+
+    def _initialize(self):
+        while not self.should_stop() and not self._state:
+            line = b''
+            ch = None
+
+            while ch not in [b'\r', b'\n']:
+                ch = self._process.stdout.read(1)
+                line += ch
+
+            line = line.decode().strip()
+            if not (line and line.startswith('Axes:')):
+                continue
+
+            re_axes = self.js_axes_regex.search(line)
+            re_buttons = self.js_buttons_regex.search(line)
+
+            if not (re_axes and re_buttons):
+                return
+
+            state = {
+                'axes': [],
+                'buttons': [],
+            }
+
+            axes = re_axes.group(1)
+            while axes:
+                m = self.js_axis_regex.search(axes)
+                state['axes'].append(int(m.group(2)))
+                axes = m.group(3)
+
+            buttons = re_buttons.group(1)
+            while buttons:
+                m = self.js_button_regex.search(buttons)
+                state['buttons'].append(m.group(2) == 'on')
+                buttons = m.group(3)
+
+            self._state = JoystickState(**state)
+
+    def _process_state(self, state: JoystickState):
+        diff = self._state - state
+        if not diff:
+            return
+
+        self.bus.post(JoystickStateEvent(device=self.device, **state.__dict__))
+
+        for button, pressed in diff.get('buttons', {}).items():
+            evt_class = JoystickButtonPressedEvent if pressed else JoystickButtonReleasedEvent
+            self.bus.post(evt_class(device=self.device, button=button))
+
+        for axis, value in diff.get('buttons', {}).items():
+            self.bus.post(JoystickAxisEvent(device=self.device, axis=axis, value=value))
+
+        self._state = state
+
+    def run(self):
+        super().run()
+
+        try:
+            while not self.should_stop():
+                self._wait_ready()
+
+                with subprocess.Popen(
+                        [self.jstest_path, '--normal', self.device_path],
+                        stdout=subprocess.PIPE) as self._process:
+                    self.logger.info('Device opened')
+                    self._initialize()
+
+                    for state in self._read_states():
+                        self._process_state(state)
+
+                        if not os.path.exists(self.device_path):
+                            self.logger.warning(f'Connection to {self.device_path} lost')
+                            self.bus.post(JoystickDisconnectedEvent(self.device_path))
+                            break
+        finally:
+            self._process = None
+
+
+# vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:
diff --git a/platypush/message/event/joystick.py b/platypush/message/event/joystick.py
index 4aca2e7c..08e37a54 100644
--- a/platypush/message/event/joystick.py
+++ b/platypush/message/event/joystick.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+from abc import ABC
+from typing import List
+
 from platypush.message.event import Event
 
 
 class JoystickEvent(Event):
     """
-    Event triggered upon joystick event
+    Generic joystick event.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, code, state, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -11,12 +14,83 @@ class JoystickEvent(Event):
         :param code: Event code, usually the code of the source key/handle
         :type code: str
 
-        :param state: State of the triggering element. Can be 0/1 for a button, -1/0/1 for an axis, a discrete integer for an analog input etc.
+        :param state: State of the triggering element. Can be 0/1 for a button, -1/0/1 for an axis, a discrete integer
+            for an analog input etc.
         :type state: int
         """
 
         super().__init__(*args, code=code, state=state, **kwargs)
 
 
-# vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:
+class _JoystickEvent(Event, ABC):
+    """
+    Base joystick event class.
+    """
 
+    def __init__(self, device: str, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(device=device, **kwargs)
+
+
+class JoystickConnectedEvent(_JoystickEvent):
+    """
+    Event triggered upon joystick connection.
+    """
+
+
+class JoystickDisconnectedEvent(_JoystickEvent):
+    """
+    Event triggered upon joystick disconnection.
+    """
+
+
+class JoystickStateEvent(_JoystickEvent):
+    """
+    Event triggered when the state of the joystick changes.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, axes: List[int], buttons: List[bool], **kwargs):
+        """
+        :param axes: Joystick axes values, as a list of integer values.
+        :param buttons: Joystick buttons values, as a list of boolean values (True for pressed, False for released).
+        """
+        super().__init__(*args, axes=axes, buttons=buttons, **kwargs)
+
+
+class JoystickButtonPressedEvent(_JoystickEvent):
+    """
+    Event triggered when a joystick button is pressed.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, button: int, **kwargs):
+        """
+        :param button: Button index.
+        """
+        super().__init__(*args, button=button, **kwargs)
+
+
+class JoystickButtonReleasedEvent(_JoystickEvent):
+    """
+    Event triggered when a joystick button is released.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, button: int, **kwargs):
+        """
+        :param button: Button index.
+        """
+        super().__init__(*args, button=button, **kwargs)
+
+
+class JoystickAxisEvent(_JoystickEvent):
+    """
+    Event triggered when an axis value of the joystick changes.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, axis: int, value: int, **kwargs):
+        """
+        :param axis: Axis index.
+        :param value: Axis value.
+        """
+        super().__init__(*args, axis=axis, value=value, **kwargs)
+
+
+# vim:sw=4:ts=4:et: