diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 3f1549b9..5837083b 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -397,7 +397,9 @@ config_parse_screen(cfg_t *cfg, int screen)
     else
     {
         warn("no default layout available\n");
+        layout = p_new(Layout, 1);
         layout->arrange = layout_tile;
+        layout_list_push(&virtscreen->layouts, layout);
     }
 
     /* Tags */