diff --git a/include/sway/tree/container.h b/include/sway/tree/container.h
index b802e1d1b..906088f01 100644
--- a/include/sway/tree/container.h
+++ b/include/sway/tree/container.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ enum sway_container_layout {
 	L_VERT,
 	L_STACKED,
 	L_TABBED,
+	L_FLOATING,
 };
 
 enum sway_container_border {
@@ -75,10 +76,6 @@ struct sway_container {
 	enum sway_container_layout layout;
 	enum sway_container_layout prev_layout;
 
-	// Allow the container to be automatically removed if it's empty. True by
-	// default, false for the magic floating container that each workspace has.
-	bool reapable;
-
 	// Saves us from searching the list of children/floating in the parent
 	bool is_floating;
 	bool is_sticky;
diff --git a/sway/desktop/output.c b/sway/desktop/output.c
index 1d21e80f2..e91be4d4a 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/output.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/output.c
@@ -754,6 +754,8 @@ static void render_container(struct sway_output *output,
 	case L_TABBED:
 		render_container_tabbed(output, damage, con, parent_focused);
 		break;
+	case L_FLOATING:
+		sway_assert(false, "Didn't expect to see floating here");
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/sway/ipc-json.c b/sway/ipc-json.c
index 4d7024a8a..6d1854490 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-json.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-json.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ static const char *ipc_json_layout_description(enum sway_container_layout l) {
 		return "tabbed";
 	case L_STACKED:
 		return "stacked";
+	case L_FLOATING:
+		return "floating";
 	case L_NONE:
 		break;
 	}
diff --git a/sway/tree/container.c b/sway/tree/container.c
index f9a0474cd..17d29d923 100644
--- a/sway/tree/container.c
+++ b/sway/tree/container.c
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ struct sway_container *container_create(enum sway_container_type type) {
 	c->layout = L_NONE;
 	c->type = type;
 	c->alpha = 1.0f;
-	c->reapable = true;
 
 	if (type != C_VIEW) {
 		c->children = create_list();
@@ -280,7 +279,8 @@ static void container_root_finish(struct sway_container *con) {
 }
 
 bool container_reap_empty(struct sway_container *con) {
-	if (!con->reapable) {
+	if (con->layout == L_FLOATING) {
+		// Don't reap the magical floating container that each workspace has
 		return false;
 	}
 	switch (con->type) {
@@ -618,6 +618,9 @@ struct sway_container *container_at(struct sway_container *parent,
 		return container_at_tabbed(parent, ox, oy, surface, sx, sy);
 	case L_STACKED:
 		return container_at_stacked(parent, ox, oy, surface, sx, sy);
+	case L_FLOATING:
+		sway_assert(false, "Didn't expect to see floating here");
+		return NULL;
 	case L_NONE:
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -842,6 +845,9 @@ static size_t get_tree_representation(struct sway_container *parent, char *buffe
 	case L_STACKED:
 		lenient_strcat(buffer, "S[");
 		break;
+	case L_FLOATING:
+		strcpy(buffer, "F[");
+		break;
 	case L_NONE:
 		lenient_strcat(buffer, "D[");
 		break;
diff --git a/sway/tree/workspace.c b/sway/tree/workspace.c
index 5bef409aa..37d4a06a0 100644
--- a/sway/tree/workspace.c
+++ b/sway/tree/workspace.c
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ struct sway_container *workspace_create(struct sway_container *output,
 	swayws->swayc = workspace;
 	swayws->floating = container_create(C_CONTAINER);
 	swayws->floating->parent = swayws->swayc;
-	swayws->floating->reapable = false;
+	swayws->floating->layout = L_FLOATING;
 	workspace->sway_workspace = swayws;
 
 	container_add_child(output, workspace);