diff --git a/include/panda_sdl/frontend_sdl.hpp b/include/panda_sdl/frontend_sdl.hpp
index 7d131899..c34af953 100644
--- a/include/panda_sdl/frontend_sdl.hpp
+++ b/include/panda_sdl/frontend_sdl.hpp
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ class FrontendSDL {
 	bool keyboardAnalogY = false;
 	bool emuPaused = false;
 	bool returnToSelector = false;
+	#ifdef IMGUI_FRONTEND
+	bool controllerStartHeld = false;
+	bool controllerSelectHeld = false;
+	bool controllerPauseComboArmed = true;
+	#endif
 
   private:
 	void setupControllerSensors(SDL_GameController* controller);
diff --git a/include/panda_sdl/imgui_layer.hpp b/include/panda_sdl/imgui_layer.hpp
index a7341f3b..f17df63c 100644
--- a/include/panda_sdl/imgui_layer.hpp
+++ b/include/panda_sdl/imgui_layer.hpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class ImGuiLayer {
 	void setPauseCallback(std::function<void(bool)> callback) { onPauseChange = std::move(callback); }
 	void setVsyncCallback(std::function<void(bool)> callback) { onVsyncChange = std::move(callback); }
 	void setExitToSelectorCallback(std::function<void()> callback) { onExitToSelector = std::move(callback); }
+	void showPauseMenuFromController();
 
   private:
 	void drawDebugPanel();
diff --git a/src/panda_sdl/frontend_sdl.cpp b/src/panda_sdl/frontend_sdl.cpp
index 5380cdb1..7e970e9d 100644
--- a/src/panda_sdl/frontend_sdl.cpp
+++ b/src/panda_sdl/frontend_sdl.cpp
@@ -317,6 +317,9 @@ void FrontendSDL::run() {
 	#ifdef IMGUI_FRONTEND
 	int lastDrawableW = -1;
 	int lastDrawableH = -1;
+	controllerStartHeld = false;
+	controllerSelectHeld = false;
+	controllerPauseComboArmed = true;
 	#endif
 
 	while (programRunning) {
@@ -523,6 +526,24 @@ void FrontendSDL::run() {
 						case SDL_CONTROLLER_BUTTON_START: key = Keys::Start; break;
 					}
 
+					#ifdef IMGUI_FRONTEND
+					if (event.cbutton.button == SDL_CONTROLLER_BUTTON_START) {
+						controllerStartHeld = event.cbutton.state == SDL_PRESSED;
+					}
+					if (event.cbutton.button == SDL_CONTROLLER_BUTTON_BACK) {
+						controllerSelectHeld = event.cbutton.state == SDL_PRESSED;
+					}
+					if (event.cbutton.state == SDL_PRESSED && controllerStartHeld && controllerSelectHeld && controllerPauseComboArmed) {
+						controllerPauseComboArmed = false;
+						if (imgui) {
+							imgui->showPauseMenuFromController();
+						}
+					}
+					if (event.cbutton.state == SDL_RELEASED && (!controllerStartHeld && !controllerSelectHeld)) {
+						controllerPauseComboArmed = true;
+					}
+					#endif
+
 					if (key != 0) {
 						if (event.cbutton.state == SDL_PRESSED) {
 							hid.pressKey(key);
diff --git a/src/panda_sdl/imgui_layer.cpp b/src/panda_sdl/imgui_layer.cpp
index d1451a5c..4357e601 100644
--- a/src/panda_sdl/imgui_layer.cpp
+++ b/src/panda_sdl/imgui_layer.cpp
@@ -236,6 +236,16 @@ void ImGuiLayer::handleHotkey(const SDL_Event& event) {
 	}
 }
 
+void ImGuiLayer::showPauseMenuFromController() {
+	if (!showPauseMenu) {
+		showPauseMenu = true;
+		if (onPauseChange) {
+			isPaused = true;
+			onPauseChange(true);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 std::optional<std::filesystem::path> ImGuiLayer::runGameSelector() {
 	std::vector<InstalledGame> games = scanAllGames();
 	bool showNoRom = games.empty();