diff --git a/hiro/gtk/desktop.cpp b/hiro/gtk/desktop.cpp
index 8ff555f8..d89f00b5 100644
--- a/hiro/gtk/desktop.cpp
+++ b/hiro/gtk/desktop.cpp
@@ -26,16 +26,21 @@ auto pDesktop::workspace() -> Geometry {
   XlibAtom returnAtom;
 
   XlibAtom netWorkarea = XInternAtom(display, "_NET_WORKAREA", XlibTrue);
-  int result = XGetWindowProperty(
-    display, RootWindow(display, screen), netWorkarea, 0, 4, XlibFalse,
-    XInternAtom(display, "CARDINAL", XlibTrue), &returnAtom, &format, &items, &after, &data
-  );
-
-  XlibAtom cardinal = XInternAtom(display, "CARDINAL", XlibTrue);
-  if(result == Success && returnAtom == cardinal && format == 32 && items == 4) {
-    unsigned long* workarea = (unsigned long*)data;
-    XCloseDisplay(display);
-    return {(int)workarea[0], (int)workarea[1], (int)workarea[2], (int)workarea[3]};
+
+  // Under certain window managers the _NET_WORKAREA atom is not set initially
+  if (netWorkarea != XlibNone) {
+
+    int result = XGetWindowProperty(
+      display, RootWindow(display, screen), netWorkarea, 0, 4, XlibFalse,
+      XInternAtom(display, "CARDINAL", XlibTrue), &returnAtom, &format, &items, &after, &data
+    );
+
+    XlibAtom cardinal = XInternAtom(display, "CARDINAL", XlibTrue);
+    if(result == Success && returnAtom == cardinal && format == 32 && items == 4) {
+      unsigned long* workarea = (unsigned long*)data;
+      XCloseDisplay(display);
+      return {(int)workarea[0], (int)workarea[1], (int)workarea[2], (int)workarea[3]};
+    }
   }
 
   XCloseDisplay(display);