diff --git a/sway/ipc-server.c b/sway/ipc-server.c
index 13e1837a3..484d7e516 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-server.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-server.c
@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ void ipc_client_handle_command(struct ipc_client *client) {
 	}
 
 exit_cleanup:
+	client->payload_length = 0;
 	free(buf);
 	return;
 }