diff --git a/sway/commands/bar.c b/sway/commands/bar.c
index 88649bab..88580ffb 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar.c
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_bar(int argc, char **argv) {
 		}
 		config->current_bar = bar;
 		++argv; --argc;
-	} else if (!config->reading) {
+	} else if (!config->reading && strcmp(argv[0], "mode") != 0 &&
+			strcmp(argv[0], "hidden_state") != 0) {
 		if (is_subcommand(argv[0])) {
 			return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "No bar defined.");
 		} else {