diff --git a/VerticalTilingWindowManager.cpp b/VerticalTilingWindowManager.cpp
index 7d2425e..1ab77d9 100644
--- a/VerticalTilingWindowManager.cpp
+++ b/VerticalTilingWindowManager.cpp
@@ -66,10 +66,16 @@ namespace krikkel::NCurses
 
     void VerticalTilingWindowManager::updateLayout()
     {
+        size_t stackSize = visibleStack.size();
+        if(stackSize == 0)
+        {
+            rootWindow->clear();
+            return;
+        }
+
         scoped_lock lock(*ncursesMutex);
         int availableWidth = rootWindow->width();
         int availableHeight = rootWindow->height();
-        size_t stackSize = visibleStack.size();
         int windowHeight =  availableHeight / stackSize - 1;
 
         if((windowHeight + 1) * stackSize < availableHeight)