--- a/DesktopPanel.cxx
+++ b/DesktopPanel.cxx
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ void DesktopPanel::updateRowCount()
 {
   NETRootInfo ri(QX11Info::connection(), 0, NET::WM2DesktopLayout);
 
-  int newRows = std::max(1, ri.desktopLayoutColumnsRows().height());
+  int newRows = std::max(2, ri.desktopLayoutColumnsRows().height());
 
   if ( newRows != rows )
   {