diff --git a/plugins/Cardinal/CardinalPlugin.cpp b/plugins/Cardinal/CardinalPlugin.cpp
index 277a43c..d04ad0b 100644
--- a/plugins/Cardinal/CardinalPlugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/Cardinal/CardinalPlugin.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <asset.hpp>
 #include <audio.hpp>
 #include <context.hpp>
+#include <gamepad.hpp>
 #include <library.hpp>
 #include <keyboard.hpp>
 #include <midi.hpp>
@@ -100,6 +101,9 @@ struct Initializer {
         midi::init();
         // rtmidiInit();
         keyboard::init();
+#ifndef DPF_AS_GLFW
+        gamepad::init();
+#endif
         plugin::init();
         library::init();
         // discord::init();
diff --git a/plugins/Cardinal/CardinalUI.cpp b/plugins/Cardinal/CardinalUI.cpp
index e0631aa..1adfda6 100644
--- a/plugins/Cardinal/CardinalUI.cpp
+++ b/plugins/Cardinal/CardinalUI.cpp
@@ -27,11 +27,6 @@
 #include "DistrhoUI.hpp"
 #include "ResizeHandle.hpp"
 
-GLFWAPI const char* glfwGetClipboardString(GLFWwindow* window) { return nullptr; }
-GLFWAPI void glfwSetClipboardString(GLFWwindow* window, const char*) {}
-GLFWAPI const char* glfwGetKeyName(int key, int scancode) { return nullptr; }
-GLFWAPI int glfwGetKeyScancode(int key) { return 0; }
-
 namespace rack {
 namespace network {
     std::string encodeUrl(const std::string&) { return {}; }
@@ -40,6 +35,12 @@ namespace network {
 }
 }
 
+#ifdef DPF_AS_GLFW
+GLFWAPI const char* glfwGetClipboardString(GLFWwindow* window) { return nullptr; }
+GLFWAPI void glfwSetClipboardString(GLFWwindow* window, const char*) {}
+GLFWAPI const char* glfwGetKeyName(int key, int scancode) { return nullptr; }
+GLFWAPI int glfwGetKeyScancode(int key) { return 0; }
+
 namespace rack {
 namespace window {
     DISTRHO_NAMESPACE::UI* lastUI = nullptr;
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ namespace window {
     void scrollCallback(Window* win, double x, double y);
 }
 }
+#endif
 
 START_NAMESPACE_DISTRHO
 
@@ -95,7 +97,9 @@ public:
         */
         // Initialize context
         INFO("Initializing context");
+#ifdef DPF_AS_GLFW
         window::lastUI = this;
+#endif
         contextSet(new Context);
         APP->engine = new engine::Engine;
         APP->history = new history::State;
@@ -106,7 +110,9 @@ public:
         /*if (!settings::headless)*/ {
             APP->window = new window::Window;
         }
+#ifdef DPF_AS_GLFW
         window::lastUI = nullptr;
+#endif
 
     	APP->engine->startFallbackThread();
     }
@@ -143,6 +149,7 @@ protected:
 
     // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+#ifdef DPF_AS_GLFW
     bool onMouse(const MouseEvent& ev) override
     {
         int button;
@@ -205,6 +212,7 @@ protected:
         scrollCallback(APP->window, ev.delta.getX(), ev.delta.getY());
         return true;
     }
+#endif
 
     #if 0
     void onResize(const ResizeEvent& ev) override
diff --git a/plugins/Cardinal/DistrhoPluginInfo.h b/plugins/Cardinal/DistrhoPluginInfo.h
index 9fc88fb..7b4a845 100644
--- a/plugins/Cardinal/DistrhoPluginInfo.h
+++ b/plugins/Cardinal/DistrhoPluginInfo.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 // #define DISTRHO_UI_USE_NANOVG             1
 #define DISTRHO_UI_USER_RESIZABLE         0
 
+#define DPF_AS_GLFW 1
+
 enum Parameters {
     kParameterCount
 };
diff --git a/plugins/Cardinal/Makefile b/plugins/Cardinal/Makefile
index 94eb078..20f83d1 100644
--- a/plugins/Cardinal/Makefile
+++ b/plugins/Cardinal/Makefile
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ endif
 
 EXTRA_LIBS += Rack/dep/lib/libzstd.a
 
+# for raw GLFW window
+# EXTRA_LIBS += Rack/dep/lib/libglfw3.a
+# FILES_DSP += Rack/src/gamepad.cpp Rack/src/window/Window.cpp
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------------
 # Do some magic