diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6e1c9fcb1..552f04ac0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ if(USE_WIIUSE)
 endif()
 
 if(MSVC OR MINGW)
-  target_link_libraries(supertuxkart iphlpapi.lib xinput)
+  target_link_libraries(supertuxkart iphlpapi.lib)
   add_custom_command(TARGET supertuxkart POST_BUILD
     COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_directory
         "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/dependencies/dll"
diff --git a/lib/irrlicht/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/irrlicht/CMakeLists.txt
index c7d649612..545e857ca 100644
--- a/lib/irrlicht/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/irrlicht/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -570,5 +570,5 @@ if(ENABLE_WAYLAND_DEVICE)
 endif()
 
 if(WIN32)
-    target_link_libraries(stkirrlicht imm32)
+    target_link_libraries(stkirrlicht imm32 XINPUT9_1_0.LIB)
 endif()
diff --git a/lib/irrlicht/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceWin32.cpp b/lib/irrlicht/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceWin32.cpp
index 04d568a36..a2834c7ab 100644
--- a/lib/irrlicht/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceWin32.cpp
+++ b/lib/irrlicht/source/Irrlicht/CIrrDeviceWin32.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@
 #include <regstr.h>
 #include <winuser.h>
 #if defined(_IRR_COMPILE_WITH_JOYSTICK_EVENTS_)
+// This define will switch to use XInput 9.1, which does not
+// require an installer and works on most windows platforms.
+// See https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/chuckw/2012/04/25/xinput-and-windows-8/
+#define _WIN32_WINNT 0x0601
 #include <Xinput.h>
 #ifdef _IRR_COMPILE_WITH_DIRECTINPUT_JOYSTICK_
 #define DIRECTINPUT_VERSION 0x0800