diff --git a/drivers/hid/hid-nintendo.c b/drivers/hid/hid-nintendo.c
index ae3cd8ca9fa7..c4270499fc6f 100644
--- a/drivers/hid/hid-nintendo.c
+++ b/drivers/hid/hid-nintendo.c
@@ -400,6 +400,7 @@ struct joycon_input_report {
 static const u16 JC_RUMBLE_DFLT_LOW_FREQ = 160;
 static const u16 JC_RUMBLE_DFLT_HIGH_FREQ = 320;
 static const u16 JC_RUMBLE_PERIOD_MS = 50;
+static const unsigned short JC_RUMBLE_ZERO_AMP_PKT_CNT = 5;
 
 static const char * const joycon_player_led_names[] = {
 	LED_FUNCTION_PLAYER1,
@@ -464,6 +465,7 @@ struct joycon_ctlr {
 	u16 rumble_lh_freq;
 	u16 rumble_rl_freq;
 	u16 rumble_rh_freq;
+	unsigned short rumble_zero_countdown;
 
 	/* imu */
 	struct input_dev *imu_input;
@@ -1218,8 +1220,19 @@ static void joycon_parse_report(struct joycon_ctlr *ctlr,
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&ctlr->lock, flags);
 	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_NINTENDO_FF) && rep->vibrator_report &&
-	    (msecs - ctlr->rumble_msecs) >= JC_RUMBLE_PERIOD_MS)
+	    (msecs - ctlr->rumble_msecs) >= JC_RUMBLE_PERIOD_MS &&
+	    (ctlr->rumble_queue_head != ctlr->rumble_queue_tail ||
+	     ctlr->rumble_zero_countdown > 0)) {
+		/*
+		 * When this value reaches 0, we know we've sent multiple
+		 * packets to the controller instructing it to disable rumble.
+		 * We can safely stop sending periodic rumble packets until the
+		 * next ff effect.
+		 */
+		if (ctlr->rumble_zero_countdown > 0)
+			ctlr->rumble_zero_countdown--;
 		queue_work(ctlr->rumble_queue, &ctlr->rumble_worker);
+	}
 
 	/* Parse the battery status */
 	tmp = rep->bat_con;
@@ -1513,6 +1526,9 @@ static int joycon_set_rumble(struct joycon_ctlr *ctlr, u16 amp_r, u16 amp_l,
 	freq_r_high = ctlr->rumble_rh_freq;
 	freq_l_low = ctlr->rumble_ll_freq;
 	freq_l_high = ctlr->rumble_lh_freq;
+	/* limit number of silent rumble packets to reduce traffic */
+	if (amp_l != 0 || amp_r != 0)
+		ctlr->rumble_zero_countdown = JC_RUMBLE_ZERO_AMP_PKT_CNT;
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ctlr->lock, flags);
 
 	/* right joy-con */