diff --git a/lib/awful/widget/taglist.lua b/lib/awful/widget/taglist.lua
index 4b39d4e9..9a14556c 100644
--- a/lib/awful/widget/taglist.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/widget/taglist.lua
@@ -528,6 +528,13 @@ function taglist.new(args, filter, buttons, style, update_function, base_widget)
                 for _, tlist in pairs(i) do
                     tlist._do_taglist_update()
                 end
+            else
+                -- No screen? Update all taglists
+                for _, list in pairs(instances) do
+                    for _, tlist in pairs(list) do
+                        tlist._do_taglist_update()
+                    end
+                end
             end
         end
         local uc = function (c) return u(c.screen) end