diff --git a/common/swindow.c b/common/swindow.c
index 60cf252ad..119da51b8 100644
--- a/common/swindow.c
+++ b/common/swindow.c
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ simplewindow_new(xcb_connection_t *conn, int phys_screen, int x, int y,
     sw->gc = xcb_generate_id(sw->connection);
     xcb_create_gc(sw->connection, sw->gc, gc_draw, gc_mask, gc_values);
 
+    sw->border = border_width;
+
     return sw;
 }
 
diff --git a/common/swindow.h b/common/swindow.h
index 85570a504..c3f1be14a 100644
--- a/common/swindow.h
+++ b/common/swindow.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ typedef struct simple_window_t
     xcb_drawable_t drawable;
     xcb_gcontext_t gc;
     area_t geometry;
+    int border;
 } simple_window_t;
 
 simple_window_t * simplewindow_new(xcb_connection_t *, int, int, int, unsigned int, unsigned int, unsigned int);