diff --git a/layout-string.c b/layout-string.c
index acaf09e4..8955fd29 100644
--- a/layout-string.c
+++ b/layout-string.c
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ struct layout_cell *layout_find_bottomright(struct layout_cell *);
 struct layout_cell *
 layout_find_string(struct window *w, const char *s)
 {
-	struct layout_cell	*lc = w->layout_root;
+	struct layout_cell	*lc;
+
+	lc = NULL;
 
 	if (strcasecmp(s, "top") == 0)
 		lc = layout_find_top(lc);