diff --git a/MiSTer.ini b/MiSTer.ini
index bb111bb..2401c7a 100644
--- a/MiSTer.ini
+++ b/MiSTer.ini
@@ -138,6 +138,29 @@ jamma_pid=0xF3AD
 ;no_merge_vidpid=0x12345678
 ;no_merge_vidpid=0x11112222
 
+; Permanently assign specific controller to specific player.
+; Normally you don't need to use this option, but if you use arcade cabinet with integrated controllers then
+; you may want to use it for specific player regardless which controller is used first.
+; To assign it, you need to provide unique part of this controller ID.
+; In USB debug log you may see list of input devices right after core has been loaded. 
+; For example:
+;
+; opened 0( 0): /dev/input/event8 (1915:0040) 0 "7c:10:c9:15:22:33/df:47:3a:12:44:55" "Flydigi APEX2"
+; ...
+; opened 7( 7): /dev/input/event3 (1997:2535) 0 "usb-ffb40000.usb-1.6/input0" "  mini keyboard"
+; opened 9( 9): /dev/input/event0 (046d:4024) 0 "usb-ffb40000.usb-1.2/input2:1/4024-19-a2-39-0a" "Logitech K400"
+;
+; following part is unique identifier in system ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+; So you need to provide part of this string identifying exactly this device. Don't include inputX part as it may change after reboot.
+; Wireless devices usually have format MAC/MAC, wired devices use usb-... format.
+;
+; Example of such unique part of strings:
+;
+;player_1_controller=usb-1.2/  ;include / at the end so it won't match with something like usb-1.2.3
+;player_2_controller=7c:10:c9:15:22:33/df:47:3a:12:44:55
+;player_3_controller=
+;player_4_controller=
+
 ; Speeds in sniper/non-sniper modes of mouse emulation by joystick 
 ; 0 - (default) - faster move in non-sniper mode, slower move in sniper mode.
 ; 1 - movement speeds are swapped.
diff --git a/cfg.cpp b/cfg.cpp
index 85bca96..c97e502 100644
--- a/cfg.cpp
+++ b/cfg.cpp
@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@ static const ini_var_t ini_vars[] =
 	{ "VRR_MAX_FRAMERATE", (void *)(&(cfg.vrr_max_framerate)), UINT8, 0, 255},
 	{ "VRR_VESA_FRAMERATE", (void *)(&(cfg.vrr_vesa_framerate)), UINT8, 0, 255},
 	{ "VIDEO_OFF", (void*)(&(cfg.video_off)), INT16, 0, 3600 },
+	{ "PLAYER_1_CONTROLLER", (void*)(&(cfg.player_controller[0])), STRING, 0, sizeof(cfg.player_controller[0]) - 1 },
+	{ "PLAYER_2_CONTROLLER", (void*)(&(cfg.player_controller[1])), STRING, 0, sizeof(cfg.player_controller[1]) - 1 },
+	{ "PLAYER_3_CONTROLLER", (void*)(&(cfg.player_controller[2])), STRING, 0, sizeof(cfg.player_controller[2]) - 1 },
+	{ "PLAYER_4_CONTROLLER", (void*)(&(cfg.player_controller[3])), STRING, 0, sizeof(cfg.player_controller[3]) - 1 },
 };
 
 static const int nvars = (int)(sizeof(ini_vars) / sizeof(ini_var_t));
diff --git a/cfg.h b/cfg.h
index ebc23e6..f16049b 100644
--- a/cfg.h
+++ b/cfg.h
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	char vfilter_vertical_default[1023];
 	char vfilter_scanlines_default[1023];
 	char shmask_default[1023];
+	char player_controller[4][1024];
 	uint8_t rumble;
 	uint8_t wheel_force;
 	uint16_t wheel_range;
diff --git a/input.cpp b/input.cpp
index 16ab5ef..1dd9dd1 100644
--- a/input.cpp
+++ b/input.cpp
@@ -2235,6 +2235,14 @@ static uint16_t def_mmap[] = {
 	0x0000, 0x0002, 0x0001, 0x0002, 0x0000, 0x0000, 0x0000, 0x0000
 };
 
+static void assign_player(int dev, int num)
+{
+	input[dev].num = num;
+	if (JOYCON_COMBINED(dev)) input[input[dev].bind].num = num;
+	store_player(num, dev);
+	printf("Device %s assigned to player %d\n", input[dev].id, input[dev].num);
+}
+
 static void input_cb(struct input_event *ev, struct input_absinfo *absinfo, int dev)
 {
 	if (ev->type != EV_KEY && ev->type != EV_ABS && ev->type != EV_REL) return;
@@ -2295,7 +2303,7 @@ static void input_cb(struct input_event *ev, struct input_absinfo *absinfo, int
 					//input[dev].has_mmap++;
 				}
 			} else {
-				gcdb_show_string_for_ctrl_map(input[sub_dev].bustype, input[sub_dev].vid, input[sub_dev].pid, input[sub_dev].version, pool[sub_dev].fd, input[sub_dev].name, input[dev].mmap); 
+				gcdb_show_string_for_ctrl_map(input[sub_dev].bustype, input[sub_dev].vid, input[sub_dev].pid, input[sub_dev].version, pool[sub_dev].fd, input[sub_dev].name, input[dev].mmap);
 			}
 			if (!input[dev].mmap[SYS_BTN_OSD_KTGL + 2]) input[dev].mmap[SYS_BTN_OSD_KTGL + 2] = input[dev].mmap[SYS_BTN_OSD_KTGL + 1];
 
@@ -2374,29 +2382,41 @@ static void input_cb(struct input_event *ev, struct input_absinfo *absinfo, int
 
 		if (assign_btn)
 		{
-			for (uint8_t num = 1; num < NUMDEV + 1; num++)
+			for (uint8_t i = 0; i < (sizeof(cfg.player_controller) / sizeof(cfg.player_controller[0])); i++)
 			{
-				int found = 0;
-				for (int i = 0; i < NUMDEV; i++)
+				if (cfg.player_controller[i][0])
 				{
-					if (input[i].quirk != QUIRK_TOUCHGUN)
+					if (strcasestr(input[dev].id, cfg.player_controller[i]))
 					{
-						// paddles/spinners overlay on top of other gamepad
-						if (!((input[dev].quirk == QUIRK_PDSP || input[dev].quirk == QUIRK_MSSP) ^ (input[i].quirk == QUIRK_PDSP || input[i].quirk == QUIRK_MSSP)))
-						{
-							found = (input[i].num == num);
-							if (found) break;
-						}
+						assign_player(dev, i + 1);
+						break;
 					}
 				}
+			}
 
-				if (!found)
+			if (!input[dev].num)
+			{
+				for (uint8_t num = 1; num < NUMDEV + 1; num++)
 				{
-					input[dev].num = num;
-					if (JOYCON_COMBINED(dev)) input[input[dev].bind].num = num;
-					store_player(num, dev);
-					printf("Device %s assigned to player %d\n", input[dev].id, input[dev].num);
-					break;
+					int found = 0;
+					for (int i = 0; i < NUMDEV; i++)
+					{
+						if (input[i].quirk != QUIRK_TOUCHGUN)
+						{
+							// paddles/spinners overlay on top of other gamepad
+							if (!((input[dev].quirk == QUIRK_PDSP || input[dev].quirk == QUIRK_MSSP) ^ (input[i].quirk == QUIRK_PDSP || input[i].quirk == QUIRK_MSSP)))
+							{
+								found = (input[i].num == num);
+								if (found) break;
+							}
+						}
+					}
+
+					if (!found)
+					{
+						assign_player(dev, num);
+						break;
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}