diff --git a/src/modules/hyprland/workspaces.cpp b/src/modules/hyprland/workspaces.cpp
index df9f82f81d..fa49733890 100644
--- a/src/modules/hyprland/workspaces.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/hyprland/workspaces.cpp
@@ -527,10 +527,7 @@ void Workspaces::createWorkspace(Json::Value const &workspace_data,
 
   if (workspace != m_workspaces.end()) {
     // don't recreate workspace, but update persistency if necessary
-    if (workspace_data["persistent"].asBool() and !(*workspace)->isPersistent()) {
-      spdlog::info("Setting workspace {} as persistent", workspaceName);
-      (*workspace)->setPersistent();
-    }
+    (*workspace)->setPersistent(workspace_data["persistent"].asBool());
     return;
   }
   spdlog::info("Workspace {} does not exist yet, creating...", workspaceName);
@@ -562,6 +559,11 @@ void Workspaces::removeWorkspace(std::string const &name) {
 void Workspaces::initializeWorkspaces() {
   spdlog::debug("Initializing workspaces");
 
+  // if the workspace rules changed since last initialization, make sure we reset everything:
+  for (auto &workspace : m_workspaces) {
+    m_workspacesToRemove.push_back(workspace->name());
+  }
+
   // get all current workspaces
   auto const workspacesJson = gIPC->getSocket1JsonReply("workspaces");
   auto const clientsJson = gIPC->getSocket1JsonReply("clients");
@@ -605,7 +607,9 @@ void Workspaces::initializeWorkspaces() {
       workspaceData["monitor"] = monitor;
       workspaceData["windows"] = 0;
       workspaceData["persistent"] = true;
-      createWorkspace(workspaceData);
+      m_workspacesToCreate.push_back(workspaceData);
+    } else {
+      m_workspacesToRemove.push_back(workspace);
     }
   }
 }