diff --git a/awesome.c b/awesome.c
index d05af4aee..a74cdb3b3 100644
--- a/awesome.c
+++ b/awesome.c
@@ -359,6 +359,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
         fatal("cannot open display");
 
     globalconf.screen = xcb_aux_get_screen(globalconf.connection, globalconf.default_screen);
+    globalconf.default_depth = globalconf.screen->root_depth;
+    globalconf.default_cmap = globalconf.screen->default_colormap;
 
     /* The default GC is just a newly created associated to the root window */
     globalconf.gc = xcb_generate_id(globalconf.connection);
diff --git a/globalconf.h b/globalconf.h
index b833f2bf8..481aa0bc3 100644
--- a/globalconf.h
+++ b/globalconf.h
@@ -115,6 +115,10 @@ typedef struct
     xcb_screen_t *screen;
     /** A graphic context. */
     xcb_gcontext_t gc;
+    /** Our default depth */
+    uint8_t default_depth;
+    /** Our default color map */
+    xcb_colormap_t default_cmap;
 } awesome_t;
 
 extern awesome_t globalconf;