diff --git a/sway/tree/workspace.c b/sway/tree/workspace.c
index b32f15aa..921e8f6b 100644
--- a/sway/tree/workspace.c
+++ b/sway/tree/workspace.c
@@ -155,10 +155,6 @@ void workspace_begin_destroy(struct sway_workspace *workspace) {
 }
 
 void workspace_consider_destroy(struct sway_workspace *ws) {
-	if (ws->persistent) {
-		return;
-	}
-
 	if (ws->tiling->length || ws->floating->length) {
 		return;
 	}
@@ -175,6 +171,11 @@ void workspace_consider_destroy(struct sway_workspace *ws) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (ws->persistent) {
+		ipc_event_workspace(NULL, ws, "empty");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	workspace_begin_destroy(ws);
 }