diff --git a/include/container.h b/include/container.h
index d9f33b8ae..29d4ea121 100644
--- a/include/container.h
+++ b/include/container.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ struct sway_container {
 
 	enum swayc_types type;
 	enum swayc_layouts layout;
+	enum swayc_layouts prev_layout;
 
 	/**
 	 * Width and height of this container, without borders or gaps.
diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index ce1fe8a30..ad5416f74 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -1760,29 +1760,38 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_layout(int argc, char **argv) {
 	}
 
 	if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "default") == 0) {
-		swayc_t *output = swayc_parent_by_type(parent, C_OUTPUT);
-		parent->layout = default_layout(output);
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "tabbed") == 0) {
-		if (parent->type != C_CONTAINER) {
-			parent = new_container(parent, L_TABBED);
+		parent->layout = parent->prev_layout;
+		if (parent->layout == L_NONE) {
+			swayc_t *output = swayc_parent_by_type(parent, C_OUTPUT);
+			parent->layout = default_layout(output);
+		}
+	} else {
+		if (parent->layout != L_TABBED && parent->layout != L_STACKED) {
+			parent->prev_layout = parent->layout;
 		}
 
-		parent->layout = L_TABBED;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "stacking") == 0) {
-		if (parent->type != C_CONTAINER) {
-			parent = new_container(parent, L_STACKED);
-		}
+		if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "tabbed") == 0) {
+			if (parent->type != C_CONTAINER) {
+				parent = new_container(parent, L_TABBED);
+			}
 
-		parent->layout = L_STACKED;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "splith") == 0) {
-		parent->layout = L_HORIZ;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "splitv") == 0) {
-		parent->layout = L_VERT;
-	} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "toggle") == 0 && argc == 2 && strcasecmp(argv[1], "split") == 0) {
-		if (parent->layout == L_VERT) {
+			parent->layout = L_TABBED;
+		} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "stacking") == 0) {
+			if (parent->type != C_CONTAINER) {
+				parent = new_container(parent, L_STACKED);
+			}
+
+			parent->layout = L_STACKED;
+		} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "splith") == 0) {
 			parent->layout = L_HORIZ;
-		} else {
+		} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "splitv") == 0) {
 			parent->layout = L_VERT;
+		} else if (strcasecmp(argv[0], "toggle") == 0 && argc == 2 && strcasecmp(argv[1], "split") == 0) {
+			if (parent->layout == L_VERT) {
+				parent->layout = L_HORIZ;
+			} else {
+				parent->layout = L_VERT;
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/sway/container.c b/sway/container.c
index 5579fddbe..42f6a69a3 100644
--- a/sway/container.c
+++ b/sway/container.c
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ swayc_t *new_workspace(swayc_t *output, const char *name) {
 	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Added workspace %s for output %u", name, (unsigned int)output->handle);
 	swayc_t *workspace = new_swayc(C_WORKSPACE);
 
+	workspace->prev_layout = L_NONE;
 	workspace->layout = default_layout(output);
 
 	workspace->x = output->x;
@@ -203,6 +204,7 @@ swayc_t *new_container(swayc_t *child, enum swayc_layouts layout) {
 
 	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "creating container %p around %p", cont, child);
 
+	cont->prev_layout = L_NONE;
 	cont->layout = layout;
 	cont->width = child->width;
 	cont->height = child->height;
@@ -229,6 +231,7 @@ swayc_t *new_container(swayc_t *child, enum swayc_layouts layout) {
 		add_child(workspace, cont);
 		// give them proper layouts
 		cont->layout = workspace->layout;
+		cont->prev_layout = workspace->prev_layout;
 		/* TODO: might break shit in move_container!!! workspace->layout = layout; */
 		set_focused_container_for(workspace, get_focused_view(workspace));
 	} else { // Or is built around container