diff --git a/sway/commands/reload.c b/sway/commands/reload.c
index cea6a94b..36c6acce 100644
--- a/sway/commands/reload.c
+++ b/sway/commands/reload.c
@@ -1,17 +1,45 @@
+#define _XOPEN_SOURCE 500
+#include <string.h>
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 #include "sway/config.h"
+#include "sway/ipc-server.h"
 #include "sway/tree/arrange.h"
+#include "list.h"
 
 struct cmd_results *cmd_reload(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "reload", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 0))) {
 		return error;
 	}
+
+	// store bar ids to check against new bars for barconfig_update events
+	list_t *bar_ids = create_list();
+	for (int i = 0; i < config->bars->length; ++i) {
+		struct bar_config *bar = config->bars->items[i];
+		list_add(bar_ids, strdup(bar->id));
+	}
+
 	if (!load_main_config(config->current_config_path, true)) {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "reload", "Error(s) reloading config.");
 	}
 
 	load_swaybars();
+
+	for (int i = 0; i < config->bars->length; ++i) {
+		struct bar_config *bar = config->bars->items[i];
+		for (int j = 0; j < bar_ids->length; ++j) {
+			if (strcmp(bar->id, bar_ids->items[j]) == 0) {
+				ipc_event_barconfig_update(bar);
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	for (int i = 0; i < bar_ids->length; ++i) {
+		free(bar_ids->items[i]);
+	}
+	list_free(bar_ids);
+
 	arrange_windows(&root_container);
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }