diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/Widgets/WorkspaceSwitcher.qml b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/Widgets/WorkspaceSwitcher.qml
index 74a6bb1d..425ddb0a 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/Widgets/WorkspaceSwitcher.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/Widgets/WorkspaceSwitcher.qml
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ Item {
     readonly property bool useExtWorkspace: {
         if (Quickshell.env("DMS_FORCE_EXTWS") === "1")
             return (WindowManager.windowsets?.length ?? 0) > 0;
+        if (!CompositorService.compositorDetected)
+            return false;
         switch (CompositorService.compositor) {
         case "niri":
         case "hyprland":
diff --git a/quickshell/Services/CompositorService.qml b/quickshell/Services/CompositorService.qml
index f93cb041..c673a50b 100644
--- a/quickshell/Services/CompositorService.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Services/CompositorService.qml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ Singleton {
     property bool isMiracle: false
     property bool isLabwc: false
     property string compositor: "unknown"
+    property bool compositorDetected: false
     readonly property bool useHyprlandFocusGrab: isHyprland && Quickshell.env("DMS_HYPRLAND_EXCLUSIVE_FOCUS") !== "1"
 
     readonly property string hyprlandSignature: Quickshell.env("HYPRLAND_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE")
@@ -832,6 +833,7 @@ Singleton {
         repeat: false
         onTriggered: {
             detectCompositor();
+            compositorDetected = true;
             Qt.callLater(() => {
                 NiriService.generateNiriLayoutConfig();
                 HyprlandService.generateLayoutConfig();