diff --git a/builddefs/common_features.mk b/builddefs/common_features.mk
index a6193991f84..514f6773b47 100644
--- a/builddefs/common_features.mk
+++ b/builddefs/common_features.mk
@@ -830,15 +830,12 @@ ifeq ($(strip $(JOYSTICK_ENABLE)), yes)
         $(call CATASTROPHIC_ERROR,Invalid JOYSTICK_DRIVER,JOYSTICK_DRIVER="$(JOYSTICK_DRIVER)" is not a valid joystick driver)
     endif
     OPT_DEFS += -DJOYSTICK_ENABLE
+    OPT_DEFS += -DJOYSTICK_$(strip $(shell echo $(JOYSTICK_DRIVER) | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]'))
     SRC += $(QUANTUM_DIR)/process_keycode/process_joystick.c
     SRC += $(QUANTUM_DIR)/joystick.c
 
     ifeq ($(strip $(JOYSTICK_DRIVER)), analog)
         ANALOG_DRIVER_REQUIRED = yes
-        OPT_DEFS += -DANALOG_JOYSTICK_ENABLE
-    endif
-    ifeq ($(strip $(JOYSTICK_DRIVER)), digital)
-        OPT_DEFS += -DDIGITAL_JOYSTICK_ENABLE
     endif
 endif
 
diff --git a/docs/feature_joystick.md b/docs/feature_joystick.md
index 7b699aef175..0e4529b2ebc 100644
--- a/docs/feature_joystick.md
+++ b/docs/feature_joystick.md
@@ -50,10 +50,6 @@ Axes can be configured using one of the following macros:
 
  * `JOYSTICK_AXIS_IN(input_pin, low, rest, high)`  
    The ADC samples the provided pin. `low`, `high` and `rest` correspond to the minimum, maximum, and resting (or centered) analog values of the axis, respectively.
- * `JOYSTICK_AXIS_IN_OUT(input_pin, output_pin, low, rest, high)`  
-   Same as `JOYSTICK_AXIS_IN()`, but the provided `output_pin` will be pulled high before `input_pin` is read.
- * `JOYSTICK_AXIS_IN_OUT_GROUND(input_pin, output_pin, ground_pin, low, rest, high)`  
-   Same as `JOYSTICK_AXIS_IN_OUT()`, but the provided `ground_pin` will be pulled low before reading from `input_pin`.
  * `JOYSTICK_AXIS_VIRTUAL`  
    No ADC reading is performed. The value should be provided by user code.
 
@@ -160,12 +156,8 @@ Describes a single axis.
 
 #### Members :id=api-joystick-config-t-members
 
- - `pin_t output_pin`  
-   A pin to set as output high when reading the analog value, or `JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS`.
  - `pin_t input_pin`  
    The pin to read the analog value from, or `JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS`.
- - `pin_t ground_pin`  
-   A pin to set as output low when reading the analog value, or `JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS`.
  - `uint16_t min_digit`  
    The minimum analog value.
  - `uint16_t mid_digit`  
diff --git a/quantum/joystick.c b/quantum/joystick.c
index 02818e4acd3..3e9edeb8e2c 100644
--- a/quantum/joystick.c
+++ b/quantum/joystick.c
@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@
  */
 
 #include "joystick.h"
-
-#include "analog.h"
 #include "wait.h"
 
+#if defined(JOYSTICK_ANALOG)
+#    include "analog.h"
+#endif
+
 joystick_t joystick_state = {
     .buttons = {0},
     .axes =
@@ -31,21 +33,47 @@ joystick_t joystick_state = {
 };
 
 // array defining the reading of analog values for each axis
-__attribute__((weak)) joystick_config_t joystick_axes[JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT] = {};
+__attribute__((weak)) joystick_config_t joystick_axes[JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT] = {
+#if JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT > 0
+    [0 ...(JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT - 1)] = JOYSTICK_AXIS_VIRTUAL
+#endif
+};
 
-__attribute__((weak)) void joystick_task(void) {
-    joystick_read_axes();
+__attribute__((weak)) void joystick_axis_init(uint8_t axis) {
+    if (axis >= JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT) return;
+
+#if defined(JOYSTICK_ANALOG)
+    setPinInput(joystick_axes[axis].input_pin);
+#endif
+}
+
+__attribute__((weak)) uint16_t joystick_axis_sample(uint8_t axis) {
+    if (axis >= JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT) return 0;
+
+#if defined(JOYSTICK_ANALOG)
+    return analogReadPin(joystick_axes[axis].input_pin);
+#else
+    // default to resting position
+    return joystick_axes[axis].mid_digit;
+#endif
+}
+
+static inline bool is_virtual_axis(uint8_t axis) {
+    return joystick_axes[axis].input_pin == NO_PIN;
 }
 
 void joystick_flush(void) {
-    if (joystick_state.dirty) {
-        host_joystick_send(&joystick_state);
-        joystick_state.dirty = false;
-    }
+    if (!joystick_state.dirty) return;
+
+    // TODO: host.h?
+    void host_joystick_send(joystick_t * joystick);
+    host_joystick_send(&joystick_state);
+    joystick_state.dirty = false;
 }
 
 void register_joystick_button(uint8_t button) {
     if (button >= JOYSTICK_BUTTON_COUNT) return;
+
     joystick_state.buttons[button / 8] |= 1 << (button % 8);
     joystick_state.dirty = true;
     joystick_flush();
@@ -53,6 +81,7 @@ void register_joystick_button(uint8_t button) {
 
 void unregister_joystick_button(uint8_t button) {
     if (button >= JOYSTICK_BUTTON_COUNT) return;
+
     joystick_state.buttons[button / 8] &= ~(1 << (button % 8));
     joystick_state.dirty = true;
     joystick_flush();
@@ -61,37 +90,7 @@ void unregister_joystick_button(uint8_t button) {
 int16_t joystick_read_axis(uint8_t axis) {
     if (axis >= JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT) return 0;
 
-    // disable pull-up resistor
-    writePinLow(joystick_axes[axis].input_pin);
-
-    // if pin was a pull-up input, we need to uncharge it by turning it low
-    // before making it a low input
-    setPinOutput(joystick_axes[axis].input_pin);
-
-    wait_us(10);
-
-    if (joystick_axes[axis].output_pin != JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS) {
-        setPinOutput(joystick_axes[axis].output_pin);
-        writePinHigh(joystick_axes[axis].output_pin);
-    }
-
-    if (joystick_axes[axis].ground_pin != JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS) {
-        setPinOutput(joystick_axes[axis].ground_pin);
-        writePinLow(joystick_axes[axis].ground_pin);
-    }
-
-    wait_us(10);
-
-    setPinInput(joystick_axes[axis].input_pin);
-
-    wait_us(10);
-
-#if defined(ANALOG_JOYSTICK_ENABLE) && (defined(__AVR__) || defined(PROTOCOL_CHIBIOS))
-    int16_t axis_val = analogReadPin(joystick_axes[axis].input_pin);
-#else
-    // default to resting position
-    int16_t axis_val = joystick_axes[axis].mid_digit;
-#endif
+    int16_t axis_val = joystick_axis_sample(axis);
 
     // test the converted value against the lower range
     int32_t ref        = joystick_axes[axis].mid_digit;
@@ -111,10 +110,22 @@ int16_t joystick_read_axis(uint8_t axis) {
     return ranged_val;
 }
 
+void joystick_init_axes(void) {
+#if JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT > 0
+    for (int i = 0; i < JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT; ++i) {
+        if (is_virtual_axis(i)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        joystick_axis_init(i);
+    }
+#endif
+}
+
 void joystick_read_axes(void) {
 #if JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT > 0
     for (int i = 0; i < JOYSTICK_AXIS_COUNT; ++i) {
-        if (joystick_axes[i].input_pin == JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS) {
+        if (is_virtual_axis(i)) {
             continue;
         }
 
@@ -133,3 +144,11 @@ void joystick_set_axis(uint8_t axis, int16_t value) {
         joystick_state.dirty      = true;
     }
 }
+
+void joystick_init(void) {
+    joystick_init_axes();
+}
+
+void joystick_task(void) {
+    joystick_read_axes();
+}
diff --git a/quantum/joystick.h b/quantum/joystick.h
index 5de4ba66c6a..5a69ceac64a 100644
--- a/quantum/joystick.h
+++ b/quantum/joystick.h
@@ -52,24 +52,15 @@
 
 #define JOYSTICK_MAX_VALUE ((1L << (JOYSTICK_AXIS_RESOLUTION - 1)) - 1)
 
-// configure on input_pin of the joystick_axes array entry to JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS
-// to prevent it from being read from the ADC. This allows outputing forged axis value.
-//
-#define JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS 0xFF
-
+// configure on input_pin of the joystick_axes array entry to NO_PIN
+// to prevent it from being read from the ADC. This allows outputting forged axis value.
 #define JOYSTICK_AXIS_VIRTUAL \
-    { JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS, JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS, JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS, 0, 1023 }
+    { NO_PIN, 0, JOYSTICK_MAX_VALUE / 2, JOYSTICK_MAX_VALUE }
 #define JOYSTICK_AXIS_IN(INPUT_PIN, LOW, REST, HIGH) \
-    { JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS, INPUT_PIN, JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS, LOW, REST, HIGH }
-#define JOYSTICK_AXIS_IN_OUT(INPUT_PIN, OUTPUT_PIN, LOW, REST, HIGH) \
-    { OUTPUT_PIN, INPUT_PIN, JS_VIRTUAL_AXIS, LOW, REST, HIGH }
-#define JOYSTICK_AXIS_IN_OUT_GROUND(INPUT_PIN, OUTPUT_PIN, GROUND_PIN, LOW, REST, HIGH) \
-    { OUTPUT_PIN, INPUT_PIN, GROUND_PIN, LOW, REST, HIGH }
+    { INPUT_PIN, LOW, REST, HIGH }
 
 typedef struct {
-    pin_t output_pin;
     pin_t input_pin;
-    pin_t ground_pin;
 
     // the AVR ADC offers 10 bit precision, with significant bits on the higher part
     uint16_t min_digit;
@@ -87,6 +78,14 @@ typedef struct {
 
 extern joystick_t joystick_state;
 
+/**
+ * \brief Handle the initialization of the subsystem.
+ */
+void joystick_init(void);
+
+/**
+ * \brief Handle various subsystem background tasks.
+ */
 void joystick_task(void);
 
 /**
@@ -117,6 +116,9 @@ void unregister_joystick_button(uint8_t button);
  */
 int16_t joystick_read_axis(uint8_t axis);
 
+/**
+ * \brief Sample and process the all axis.
+ */
 void joystick_read_axes(void);
 
 /**
@@ -127,6 +129,4 @@ void joystick_read_axes(void);
  */
 void joystick_set_axis(uint8_t axis, int16_t value);
 
-void host_joystick_send(joystick_t *joystick);
-
 /** \} */
diff --git a/quantum/keyboard.c b/quantum/keyboard.c
index b5fa1a6e2e9..ec2ebd4f0a6 100644
--- a/quantum/keyboard.c
+++ b/quantum/keyboard.c
@@ -440,6 +440,9 @@ void keyboard_init(void) {
 #ifdef DIP_SWITCH_ENABLE
     dip_switch_init();
 #endif
+#ifdef JOYSTICK_ENABLE
+    joystick_init();
+#endif
 #ifdef SLEEP_LED_ENABLE
     sleep_led_init();
 #endif