diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index da01833e5..95428dfd0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ PAD DOWN | DOWN |
 PAD LEFT | LEFT |
 PAD RIGHT | RIGHT |
 OPTIONS | RETURN |
-TOUCH PAD | SPACE |
+BACK BUTTON / TOUCH PAD | SPACE |
 L1 | Q |
 R1 | U |
 L2 | E |
diff --git a/src/sdl_window.cpp b/src/sdl_window.cpp
index 05d221952..fcc3d04f5 100644
--- a/src/sdl_window.cpp
+++ b/src/sdl_window.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ void WindowSDL::onKeyPress(const SDL_Event* event) {
     Input::Axis axis = Input::Axis::AxisMax;
     int axisvalue = 0;
     int ax = 0;
+    std::string backButtonBehavior = Config::getBackButtonBehavior();
     switch (event->key.key) {
     case SDLK_UP:
         button = OrbisPadButtonDataOffset::ORBIS_PAD_BUTTON_UP;
@@ -278,7 +279,16 @@ void WindowSDL::onKeyPress(const SDL_Event* event) {
         ax = Input::GetAxis(0, 0x80, axisvalue);
         break;
     case SDLK_SPACE:
-        button = OrbisPadButtonDataOffset::ORBIS_PAD_BUTTON_TOUCH_PAD;
+        if (backButtonBehavior != "none") {
+            float x = backButtonBehavior == "left"
+                        ? 0.25f
+                        : (backButtonBehavior == "right" ? 0.75f : 0.5f);
+            // trigger a touchpad event so that the touchpad emulation for back button works
+            controller->SetTouchpadState(0, true, x, 0.5f);
+            button = OrbisPadButtonDataOffset::ORBIS_PAD_BUTTON_TOUCH_PAD;
+        } else {
+            button = 0;
+        }
         break;
     case SDLK_F11:
         if (event->type == SDL_EVENT_KEY_DOWN) {