diff --git a/src/Compositor.cpp b/src/Compositor.cpp
index 43efdac1..3421c314 100644
--- a/src/Compositor.cpp
+++ b/src/Compositor.cpp
@@ -3024,3 +3024,46 @@ bool CCompositor::shouldChangePreferredImageDescription() {
     Debug::log(WARN, "FIXME: color management protocol is enabled and outputs changed, check preferred image description changes");
     return false;
 }
+
+void CCompositor::ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent(const std::vector<SWorkspaceRule>& rules) {
+    for (const auto& rule : rules) {
+        if (!rule.isPersistent)
+            continue;
+
+        const auto PMONITOR = getMonitorFromString(rule.monitor);
+
+        if (!PMONITOR) {
+            Debug::log(ERR, "ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent: couldn't resolve monitor for {}, skipping", rule.monitor);
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        WORKSPACEID id     = rule.workspaceId;
+        std::string wsname = rule.workspaceName;
+        if (id == WORKSPACE_INVALID) {
+            const auto R = getWorkspaceIDNameFromString(rule.workspaceString);
+            id           = R.id;
+            wsname       = R.name;
+        }
+
+        if (id == WORKSPACE_INVALID) {
+            Debug::log(ERR, "ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent: couldn't resolve id for workspace {}", rule.workspaceString);
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if (const auto PWORKSPACE = getWorkspaceByID(id); PWORKSPACE) {
+            if (PWORKSPACE->m_pMonitor == PMONITOR) {
+                Debug::log(LOG, "ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent: workspace persistent {} already on {}", rule.workspaceString, PMONITOR->szName);
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            Debug::log(LOG, "ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent: workspace persistent {} not on {}, moving", rule.workspaceString, PMONITOR->szName);
+            moveWorkspaceToMonitor(PWORKSPACE, PMONITOR);
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        createNewWorkspace(id, PMONITOR ? PMONITOR : m_pLastMonitor.lock(), wsname, false);
+    }
+
+    // cleanup old
+    sanityCheckWorkspaces();
+}
diff --git a/src/Compositor.hpp b/src/Compositor.hpp
index 295878df..e55d7e1e 100644
--- a/src/Compositor.hpp
+++ b/src/Compositor.hpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include <aquamarine/output/Output.hpp>
 
 class CWLSurfaceResource;
+struct SWorkspaceRule;
 
 enum eManagersInitStage : uint8_t {
     STAGE_PRIORITY = 0,
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@ class CCompositor {
     void                   setPreferredTransformForSurface(SP<CWLSurfaceResource> pSurface, wl_output_transform transform);
     void                   updateSuspendedStates();
     void                   onNewMonitor(SP<Aquamarine::IOutput> output);
+    void                   ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent(const std::vector<SWorkspaceRule>& rules);
 
     SImageDescription      getPreferredImageDescription();
     bool                   shouldChangePreferredImageDescription();
diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
index fd4783da..93289bf7 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
@@ -1034,6 +1034,10 @@ void CConfigManager::postConfigReload(const Hyprlang::CParseResult& result) {
     // update plugins
     handlePluginLoads();
 
+    // update persistent workspaces
+    if (!isFirstLaunch)
+        ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent();
+
     EMIT_HOOK_EVENT("configReloaded", nullptr);
     if (g_pEventManager)
         g_pEventManager->postEvent(SHyprIPCEvent{"configreloaded", ""});
@@ -2830,3 +2834,7 @@ std::string SConfigOptionDescription::jsonify() const {
 
     return json;
 }
+
+void CConfigManager::ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent() {
+    g_pCompositor->ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent(m_vWorkspaceRules);
+}
diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
index 564c1ebf..ae0ba759 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ class CConfigManager {
 
     std::vector<SP<CWindowRule>>                                    getMatchingRules(PHLWINDOW, bool dynamic = true, bool shadowExec = false);
     std::vector<SP<CLayerRule>>                                     getMatchingRules(PHLLS);
+    void                                                            ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent();
 
     const std::vector<SConfigOptionDescription>&                    getAllDescriptions();
 
diff --git a/src/helpers/Monitor.cpp b/src/helpers/Monitor.cpp
index 1f00e4ad..6fcaeeee 100644
--- a/src/helpers/Monitor.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/Monitor.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ void CMonitor::onConnect(bool noRule) {
     EMIT_HOOK_EVENT("preMonitorAdded", self.lock());
     CScopeGuard x = {[]() { g_pCompositor->arrangeMonitors(); }};
 
+    g_pEventLoopManager->doLater([] { g_pConfigManager->ensurePersistentWorkspacesPresent(); });
+
     if (output->supportsExplicit) {
         inTimeline  = CSyncTimeline::create(output->getBackend()->drmFD());
         outTimeline = CSyncTimeline::create(output->getBackend()->drmFD());