diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
index 43ef0792ca..aa52b9994d 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
@@ -583,9 +583,9 @@ bool Emulator::BootRsxCapture(const std::string& path)
 	GetCallbacks().on_ready();
 
 	auto gsrender = fxm::import<GSRender>(Emu.GetCallbacks().get_gs_render);
-	auto padhandler = fxm::import<pad_thread>(Emu.GetCallbacks().get_pad_handler, "");
+	Emu.GetCallbacks().init_pad_handler("");
 
-	if (gsrender.get() == nullptr || padhandler.get() == nullptr)
+	if (gsrender.get() == nullptr)
 		return false;
 
 	GetCallbacks().on_run();
@@ -1516,7 +1516,7 @@ void Emulator::Load(const std::string& title_id, bool add_only, bool force_globa
 
 			g_fxo->init();
 			fxm::import<GSRender>(Emu.GetCallbacks().get_gs_render); // TODO: must be created in appropriate sys_rsx syscall
-			fxm::import<pad_thread>(Emu.GetCallbacks().get_pad_handler, m_title_id);
+			Emu.GetCallbacks().init_pad_handler(m_title_id);
 			network_thread_init();
 		}
 		else if (ppu_prx.open(elf_file) == elf_error::ok)
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/System.h b/rpcs3/Emu/System.h
index 660b6a2c0a..e71c6e2093 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/System.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/System.h
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ struct EmuCallbacks
 	std::function<void(s32, s32)> handle_taskbar_progress; // (type, value) type: 0 for reset, 1 for increment, 2 for set_limit
 	std::function<std::shared_ptr<class KeyboardHandlerBase>()> get_kb_handler;
 	std::function<std::shared_ptr<class MouseHandlerBase>()> get_mouse_handler;
-	std::function<std::shared_ptr<class pad_thread>(const std::string&)> get_pad_handler;
+	std::function<void(std::string_view title_id)> init_pad_handler;
 	std::function<std::unique_ptr<class GSFrameBase>()> get_gs_frame;
 	std::function<std::shared_ptr<class GSRender>()> get_gs_render;
 	std::function<std::shared_ptr<class AudioBackend>()> get_audio;
diff --git a/rpcs3/main_application.cpp b/rpcs3/main_application.cpp
index bda1d7399b..321611ce2c 100644
--- a/rpcs3/main_application.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/main_application.cpp
@@ -103,9 +103,9 @@ EmuCallbacks main_application::CreateCallbacks()
 		}
 	};
 
-	callbacks.get_pad_handler = [this](const std::string& title_id) -> std::shared_ptr<pad_thread>
+	callbacks.init_pad_handler = [this](std::string_view title_id)
 	{
-		return std::make_shared<pad_thread>(get_thread(), m_game_window, title_id);
+		g_fxo->init<pad_thread>(get_thread(), m_game_window, title_id);
 	};
 
 	callbacks.get_gs_render = []() -> std::shared_ptr<GSRender>
diff --git a/rpcs3/pad_thread.cpp b/rpcs3/pad_thread.cpp
index 3006c7fa25..58b6a90c5a 100644
--- a/rpcs3/pad_thread.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/pad_thread.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ struct pad_setting
 	u32 device_type;
 };
 
-pad_thread::pad_thread(void *_curthread, void *_curwindow, const std::string& title_id) : curthread(_curthread), curwindow(_curwindow)
+pad_thread::pad_thread(void *_curthread, void *_curwindow, std::string_view title_id) : curthread(_curthread), curwindow(_curwindow)
 {
 	pad::g_title_id = title_id;
 	Init();
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ void pad_thread::SetRumble(const u32 pad, u8 largeMotor, bool smallMotor)
 	}
 }
 
-void pad_thread::Reset(const std::string& title_id)
+void pad_thread::Reset(std::string_view title_id)
 {
 	pad::g_title_id = title_id;
 	reset = active.load();
diff --git a/rpcs3/pad_thread.h b/rpcs3/pad_thread.h
index 28593800b3..ae9d3f225f 100644
--- a/rpcs3/pad_thread.h
+++ b/rpcs3/pad_thread.h
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ struct PadInfo
 class pad_thread
 {
 public:
-	pad_thread(void* _curthread, void* _curwindow, const std::string& title_id = ""); // void * instead of QThread * and QWindow * because of include in emucore
+	pad_thread(void* _curthread, void* _curwindow, std::string_view title_id); // void * instead of QThread * and QWindow * because of include in emucore
 	~pad_thread();
 
 	PadInfo& GetInfo() { return m_info; }
 	auto& GetPads() { return m_pads; }
 	void SetRumble(const u32 pad, u8 largeMotor, bool smallMotor);
 	void Init();
-	void Reset(const std::string& title_id = "");
+	void Reset(std::string_view title_id);
 	void SetEnabled(bool enabled);
 	void SetIntercepted(bool intercepted);