diff --git a/sway/ipc-json.c b/sway/ipc-json.c
index 0233a36e3..d2aee9a9e 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-json.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-json.c
@@ -160,7 +160,8 @@ static void ipc_json_describe_view(struct sway_container *c, json_object *object
 	json_object_object_add(object, "type", json_object_new_string("con"));
 
 	if (c->parent) {
-		enum sway_container_layout layout = (c->parent->type == C_CONTAINER) ?
+		enum sway_container_layout layout =
+			(c->parent->type == C_CONTAINER && c->type == C_VIEW) ?
 			c->parent->layout : c->layout;
 
 		json_object_object_add(object, "layout",