diff --git a/sway/tree/view.c b/sway/tree/view.c
index 6dccaa2e6..fb397c422 100644
--- a/sway/tree/view.c
+++ b/sway/tree/view.c
@@ -211,6 +211,23 @@ bool view_ancestor_is_only_visible(struct sway_view *view) {
 	return only_visible;
 }
 
+static bool view_is_only_visible(struct sway_view *view) {
+	struct sway_container *con = view->container;
+	while (con) {
+		enum sway_container_layout layout = container_parent_layout(con);
+		if (layout != L_TABBED && layout != L_STACKED) {
+			list_t *siblings = container_get_siblings(con);
+			if (siblings && siblings->length > 1) {
+				return false;
+			}
+		}
+
+		con = con->parent;
+	}
+
+	return true;
+}
+
 static bool gaps_to_edge(struct sway_view *view) {
 	struct side_gaps gaps = view->container->workspace->current_gaps;
 	return gaps.top > 0 || gaps.right > 0 || gaps.bottom > 0 || gaps.left > 0;
@@ -245,25 +262,31 @@ void view_autoconfigure(struct sway_view *view) {
 	double y_offset = 0;
 
 	if (!container_is_floating(con) && ws) {
-
-		bool smart = config->hide_edge_borders_smart == ESMART_ON ||
-			(config->hide_edge_borders_smart == ESMART_NO_GAPS &&
-			!gaps_to_edge(view));
-		bool hide_smart = smart && view_ancestor_is_only_visible(view);
-
 		if (config->hide_edge_borders == E_BOTH
-				|| config->hide_edge_borders == E_VERTICAL || hide_smart) {
+				|| config->hide_edge_borders == E_VERTICAL) {
 			con->border_left = con->x != ws->x;
 			int right_x = con->x + con->width;
 			con->border_right = right_x != ws->x + ws->width;
 		}
+
 		if (config->hide_edge_borders == E_BOTH
-				|| config->hide_edge_borders == E_HORIZONTAL || hide_smart) {
+				|| config->hide_edge_borders == E_HORIZONTAL) {
 			con->border_top = con->y != ws->y;
 			int bottom_y = con->y + con->height;
 			con->border_bottom = bottom_y != ws->y + ws->height;
 		}
 
+		bool smart = config->hide_edge_borders_smart == ESMART_ON ||
+			(config->hide_edge_borders_smart == ESMART_NO_GAPS &&
+			!gaps_to_edge(view));
+		if (smart) {
+			bool show_border = !view_is_only_visible(view);
+			con->border_left &= show_border;
+			con->border_right &= show_border;
+			con->border_top &= show_border;
+			con->border_bottom &= show_border;
+		}
+
 		// In a tabbed or stacked container, the container's y is the top of the
 		// title area. We have to offset the surface y by the height of the title,
 		// bar, and disable any top border because we'll always have the title bar.