diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config.cpp
index 68c1f9fabf..7d042bddbc 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ std::string cfg_pad::get_button_string(std::vector<pad::combo>& combos)
 	for (const pad::combo& combo : combos)
 	{
 		// Merge all keys for this combo (seperated by '&')
-		combo_strings.push_back(fmt::merge(combo.buttons(), "&"));
+		combo_strings.push_back(combo.to_string());
 	}
 
 	// Merge combos (seperated by ',')
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config.h b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config.h
index 2d789805e2..86779c0859 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/pad_config.h
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ namespace pad
 			m_buttons.insert(button);
 		}
 
+		std::string to_string() const
+		{
+			return fmt::merge(m_buttons, "&");
+		}
+
 		bool operator==(const combo& other) const
 		{
 			return m_buttons == other.m_buttons;
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.cpp
index 049579a351..9d9d9d31e2 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.cpp
@@ -2102,7 +2102,7 @@ void pad_settings_dialog::ApplyCurrentPlayerConfig(int new_player_id)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	m_duplicate_buttons[m_last_player_id].clear();
+	m_duplicate_combos[m_last_player_id].clear();
 
 	auto& player = g_cfg_input.player[m_last_player_id];
 	m_last_player_id = new_player_id;
@@ -2110,7 +2110,7 @@ void pad_settings_dialog::ApplyCurrentPlayerConfig(int new_player_id)
 	// Check for duplicate button choices
 	if (m_handler->m_type != pad_handler::null)
 	{
-		std::set<std::string> unique_button_strings;
+		std::set<std::string> unique_combo_strings;
 		for (const auto& [id, button] : m_cfg_entries)
 		{
 			// Let's ignore special keys, unless we're using a keyboard
@@ -2122,13 +2122,12 @@ void pad_settings_dialog::ApplyCurrentPlayerConfig(int new_player_id)
 
 			for (const pad::combo& combo : cfg_pad::get_combos(button.button_string()))
 			{
-				for (const std::string& button_string : combo.buttons())
+				std::string combo_string = combo.to_string();
+
+				if (const auto& [it, ok] = unique_combo_strings.insert(combo_string); !ok)
 				{
-					if (const auto& [it, ok] = unique_button_strings.insert(button_string); !ok)
-					{
-						m_duplicate_buttons[m_last_player_id] = button_string;
-						break;
-					}
+					m_duplicate_combos[m_last_player_id] = std::move(combo_string);
+					break;
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -2212,16 +2211,16 @@ void pad_settings_dialog::save(bool check_duplicates)
 
 	if (check_duplicates)
 	{
-		for (const auto& [player_id, key] : m_duplicate_buttons)
+		for (const auto& [player_id, combo] : m_duplicate_combos)
 		{
-			if (!key.empty())
+			if (!combo.empty())
 			{
 				int result = QMessageBox::Yes;
 				m_gui_settings->ShowConfirmationBox(
 					tr("Warning!"),
-					tr("The %0 button <b>%1</b> of <b>Player %2</b> was assigned at least twice.<br>Please consider adjusting the configuration.<br><br>Continue anyway?<br>")
+					tr("The %0 button or combo <b>%1</b> of <b>Player %2</b> was assigned at least twice.<br>Please consider adjusting the configuration.<br><br>Continue anyway?<br>")
 						.arg(QString::fromStdString(g_cfg_input.player[player_id]->handler.to_string()))
-						.arg(QString::fromStdString(key))
+						.arg(QString::fromStdString(combo))
 						.arg(player_id + 1),
 					gui::ib_same_buttons, &result, this);
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.h b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.h
index 4a6c253689..56e7cc09be 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.h
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/pad_settings_dialog.h
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ private:
 	QButtonGroup* m_pad_buttons = nullptr;
 	atomic_t<u32> m_button_id = button_ids::id_pad_begin;
 	std::map<int /*id*/, pad_button /*info*/> m_cfg_entries;
-	std::map<int /*id*/, std::string> m_duplicate_buttons;
+	std::map<int /*id*/, std::string> m_duplicate_combos;
 
 	// Real time stick values
 	int m_lx = 0;