diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_desktop_env.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_desktop_env.py
index e5fd8cc..673d815 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_desktop_env.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_desktop_env.py
@@ -77,6 +77,13 @@ def desktop_env_args(user: str, uid: int) -> list[str]:
         # Steam still keeps its own logs/console-linux.txt; this only stops
         # the copy into journald.
         "SRT_LOGGER_USE_JOURNAL=0",
+        # SDL3's HIDAPI lg4ff driver has no effect-status query; BeamNG 0.39
+        # native treats the failed query as a dead effect and the G29 goes
+        # limp (12k "Failed to get joystick3 FFB effect status" lines per
+        # session). Narrow hint so gamepads keep HIDAPI (rumble/LEDs); only
+        # the Logitech wheel falls back to the kernel driver. Name verified
+        # against BeamNG's SDL 3.4.12 strings, 2026-09-14.
+        "SDL_JOYSTICK_HIDAPI_LG4FF=0",
     ]
 
 
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_desktop_env.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_desktop_env.py
index ac5e1c6..dc05238 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_desktop_env.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_desktop_env.py
@@ -65,6 +65,16 @@ class TestDesktopEnvArgs:
         args = desktop_env_args("bob", 1000)
         assert _env_value(args, "SRT_LOGGER_USE_JOURNAL") == "0"
 
+    def test_logitech_wheel_uses_kernel_driver_not_sdl_hidapi(self) -> None:
+        """Every SDL3 game must see SDL_JOYSTICK_HIDAPI_LG4FF=0.
+
+        SDL3's hidapi lg4ff driver cannot answer effect-status queries, which
+        BeamNG 0.39 native reads as a dead effect: zero force on the G29. The
+        narrow hint keeps HIDAPI for gamepads and only demotes the wheel.
+        """
+        args = desktop_env_args("bob", 1000)
+        assert _env_value(args, "SDL_JOYSTICK_HIDAPI_LG4FF") == "0"
+
     def test_dbus_address_defaults_to_uid_path(self) -> None:
         """DBUS falls back to the uid-derived socket when unset."""
         env_copy = os.environ.copy()