diff --git a/window.c b/window.c
index 5e9c73469..c87ed04ab 100644
--- a/window.c
+++ b/window.c
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ window_state_get_unchecked(xcb_window_t w)
 uint32_t
 window_state_get_reply(xcb_get_property_cookie_t cookie)
 {
-    uint32_t result = 0;
+    /* If no property is set, we just assume a sane default. */
+    uint32_t result = XCB_WM_STATE_NORMAL;
     xcb_get_property_reply_t *prop_r;
 
     if((prop_r = xcb_get_property_reply(globalconf.connection, cookie, NULL)))