diff --git a/swayidle/main.c b/swayidle/main.c
index 7d0f23f4e..c7a17826d 100644
--- a/swayidle/main.c
+++ b/swayidle/main.c
@@ -347,7 +347,9 @@ void sway_terminate(int exit_code) {
 
 static void register_zero_idle_timeout(void *item) {
 	struct swayidle_timeout_cmd *cmd = item;
-	register_timeout(cmd, 0);
+	// A zero timeout never actually triggers. Adding a 50ms timeout is most
+	// likely not the correct fix either, but will work
+	register_timeout(cmd, 50);
 }
 
 static int handle_signal(int sig, void *data) {