diff --git a/joysticks.xml b/joysticks.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2983aabb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/joysticks.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<?xml version="1.0"?>
+<!--
+	To override "named" joystick drivers add <js-named> entries
+	with paths relative to the directory where the joysticks.xml
+	file resides (first example). Such "named" drivers are only
+	picked up if their <name> tags match the joystick hardware.
+	They have precedence over already existing drivers with the
+	same <name>. (You can also add a <name>default</name> entry
+	to the driver to make it the default choice.)
+
+	The second example shows how to load a driver directly to
+	position 0. It will then be used for the first joystick on
+	your system and FlightGear will not overwrite it.
+-->
+
+<PropertyList>
+<!--
+	<js-named include="Input/Joysticks/Local/X45-modified.xml"/>
+	<js n="0" include="Input/Joysticks/Local/joystick_0.xml"/>
+-->
+
+	<js-named/> <!-- dummy to keep SimGear happy -->
+</PropertyList>
diff --git a/preferences.xml b/preferences.xml
index 882f21ae6..d88e98456 100644
--- a/preferences.xml
+++ b/preferences.xml
@@ -591,6 +591,9 @@ Started September 2000 by David Megginson, david@megginson.com
   <!-- included externally -->
   <keyboard include="keyboard.xml"/>
 
+  <!-- included externally -->
+  <joysticks include="joysticks.xml"/>
+
   <!-- included externally -->
   <mice include="mice.xml"/>