diff --git a/sway/config/bar.c b/sway/config/bar.c
index 101562d1d..701bf051b 100644
--- a/sway/config/bar.c
+++ b/sway/config/bar.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ struct bar_config *default_bar_config(void) {
 	bar->pango_markup = false;
 	bar->swaybar_command = NULL;
 	bar->font = NULL;
-	bar->height = -1;
+	bar->height = 0;
 	bar->workspace_buttons = true;
 	bar->wrap_scroll = false;
 	bar->separator_symbol = NULL;
diff --git a/sway/sway-bar.5.scd b/sway/sway-bar.5.scd
index b345b3929..e1a4a937d 100644
--- a/sway/sway-bar.5.scd
+++ b/sway/sway-bar.5.scd
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ Sway allows configuring swaybar in the sway configuration file.
 	use.
 
 *height* <height>
-	Sets the height of the bar. Default height will match the font size.
+	Sets the height of the bar. Default height (0) will match the font size.
 
 *bindsym* [--release] button<n> <command>
 	Executes _command_ when mouse button _n_ has been pressed (or if _released_
diff --git a/swaybar/render.c b/swaybar/render.c
index 993c82285..12dd3b073 100644
--- a/swaybar/render.c
+++ b/swaybar/render.c
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ static uint32_t render_status_line_error(cairo_t *cairo,
 
 	uint32_t ideal_height = text_height + ws_vertical_padding * 2;
 	uint32_t ideal_surface_height = ideal_height / output->scale;
-	if (output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
+	if (!output->bar->config->height &&
+			output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
 		return ideal_surface_height;
 	}
 	*x -= text_width + margin;
@@ -77,7 +78,8 @@ static uint32_t render_status_line_text(cairo_t *cairo,
 
 	uint32_t ideal_height = text_height + ws_vertical_padding * 2;
 	uint32_t ideal_surface_height = ideal_height / output->scale;
-	if (output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
+	if (!output->bar->config->height &&
+			output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
 		return ideal_surface_height;
 	}
 
@@ -164,7 +166,8 @@ static uint32_t render_status_block(cairo_t *cairo,
 	double block_width = width;
 	uint32_t ideal_height = text_height + ws_vertical_padding * 2;
 	uint32_t ideal_surface_height = ideal_height / output->scale;
-	if (output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
+	if (!output->bar->config->height &&
+			output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
 		return ideal_surface_height;
 	}
 
@@ -186,7 +189,8 @@ static uint32_t render_status_block(cairo_t *cairo,
 					output->scale, false, "%s", config->sep_symbol);
 			uint32_t _ideal_height = sep_height + ws_vertical_padding * 2;
 			uint32_t _ideal_surface_height = _ideal_height / output->scale;
-			if (output->height < _ideal_surface_height) {
+			if (!output->bar->config->height &&
+					output->height < _ideal_surface_height) {
 				return _ideal_surface_height;
 			}
 			if (sep_width > sep_block_width) {
@@ -333,7 +337,8 @@ static uint32_t render_binding_mode_indicator(cairo_t *cairo,
 	uint32_t ideal_height = text_height + ws_vertical_padding * 2
 		+ border_width * 2;
 	uint32_t ideal_surface_height = ideal_height / output->scale;
-	if (output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
+	if (!output->bar->config->height &&
+			output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
 		return ideal_surface_height;
 	}
 	uint32_t width = text_width + ws_horizontal_padding * 2 + border_width * 2;
@@ -399,7 +404,8 @@ static uint32_t render_workspace_button(cairo_t *cairo,
 	uint32_t ideal_height = ws_vertical_padding * 2 + text_height
 		+ border_width * 2;
 	uint32_t ideal_surface_height = ideal_height / output->scale;
-	if (output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
+	if (!output->bar->config->height &&
+			output->height < ideal_surface_height) {
 		return ideal_surface_height;
 	}
 
@@ -526,7 +532,7 @@ void render_frame(struct swaybar_output *output) {
 	cairo_restore(cairo);
 	uint32_t height = render_to_cairo(cairo, output);
 	int config_height = output->bar->config->height;
-	if (config_height >= 0 && height < (uint32_t)config_height) {
+	if (config_height > 0) {
 		height = config_height;
 	}
 	if (height != output->height || output->width == 0) {