diff --git a/hyprtester/src/tests/main/master.cpp b/hyprtester/src/tests/main/master.cpp
index 9cd20e83..441143ac 100644
--- a/hyprtester/src/tests/main/master.cpp
+++ b/hyprtester/src/tests/main/master.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,53 @@
 #include "../../hyprctlCompat.hpp"
 #include "tests.hpp"
 
-static int  ret = 0;
+static int ret = 0;
+
+// reqs 1 master 3 slaves
+static void testOrientations() {
+    OK(getFromSocket("/keyword master:orientation top"));
+
+    // top
+    {
+        auto str = getFromSocket("/activewindow");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "at: 22,22");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "size: 1876");
+    }
+
+    // cycle = top, right, bottom, center, left
+
+    // right
+    OK(getFromSocket("/dispatch layoutmsg orientationnext"));
+    {
+        auto str = getFromSocket("/activewindow");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "at: 873,22");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "size: 1025,1036");
+    }
+
+    // bottom
+    OK(getFromSocket("/dispatch layoutmsg orientationnext"));
+    {
+        auto str = getFromSocket("/activewindow");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "at: 22,495");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "size: 1876");
+    }
+
+    // center
+    OK(getFromSocket("/dispatch layoutmsg orientationnext"));
+    {
+        auto str = getFromSocket("/activewindow");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "at: 450,22");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "size: 1020,1036");
+    }
+
+    // left
+    OK(getFromSocket("/dispatch layoutmsg orientationnext"));
+    {
+        auto str = getFromSocket("/activewindow");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "at: 22,22");
+        EXPECT_CONTAINS(str, "size: 1025,1036");
+    }
+}
 
 static void focusMasterPrevious() {
     // setup
@@ -44,6 +90,8 @@ static void focusMasterPrevious() {
     OK(getFromSocket("/dispatch layoutmsg focusmaster previous"));
     EXPECT_CONTAINS(getFromSocket("/activewindow"), "class: master");
 
+    testOrientations();
+
     // clean up
     NLog::log("{}Killing all windows", Colors::YELLOW);
     Tests::killAllWindows();
diff --git a/src/layout/algorithm/tiled/master/MasterAlgorithm.cpp b/src/layout/algorithm/tiled/master/MasterAlgorithm.cpp
index a0329b22..7f421e49 100644
--- a/src/layout/algorithm/tiled/master/MasterAlgorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/layout/algorithm/tiled/master/MasterAlgorithm.cpp
@@ -668,15 +668,15 @@ std::expected<void, std::string> CMasterAlgorithm::layoutMsg(const std::string_v
         g_pCompositor->setWindowFullscreenInternal(PWINDOW, FSMODE_NONE);
 
         if (command == "orientationleft")
-            m_workspaceData.orientation = ORIENTATION_LEFT;
+            m_workspaceData.explicitOrientation = ORIENTATION_LEFT;
         else if (command == "orientationright")
-            m_workspaceData.orientation = ORIENTATION_RIGHT;
+            m_workspaceData.explicitOrientation = ORIENTATION_RIGHT;
         else if (command == "orientationtop")
-            m_workspaceData.orientation = ORIENTATION_TOP;
+            m_workspaceData.explicitOrientation = ORIENTATION_TOP;
         else if (command == "orientationbottom")
-            m_workspaceData.orientation = ORIENTATION_BOTTOM;
+            m_workspaceData.explicitOrientation = ORIENTATION_BOTTOM;
         else if (command == "orientationcenter")
-            m_workspaceData.orientation = ORIENTATION_CENTER;
+            m_workspaceData.explicitOrientation = ORIENTATION_CENTER;
 
         calculateWorkspace();
     } else if (command == "orientationnext") {
@@ -837,6 +837,34 @@ void CMasterAlgorithm::buildOrientationCycleVectorFromEOperation(std::vector<eOr
     }
 }
 
+eOrientation CMasterAlgorithm::defaultOrientation() {
+    static auto PORIENT = CConfigValue<std::string>("master:orientation");
+
+    const auto  WORKSPACERULE = g_pConfigManager->getWorkspaceRuleFor(m_parent->space()->workspace());
+    std::string orientationString;
+    if (WORKSPACERULE.layoutopts.contains("orientation"))
+        orientationString = WORKSPACERULE.layoutopts.at("orientation");
+    else
+        orientationString = *PORIENT;
+
+    eOrientation orientation = ORIENTATION_LEFT;
+    // override if workspace rule is set
+    if (!orientationString.empty()) {
+        if (orientationString == "top")
+            orientation = ORIENTATION_TOP;
+        else if (orientationString == "right")
+            orientation = ORIENTATION_RIGHT;
+        else if (orientationString == "bottom")
+            orientation = ORIENTATION_BOTTOM;
+        else if (orientationString == "center")
+            orientation = ORIENTATION_CENTER;
+        else
+            orientation = ORIENTATION_LEFT;
+    }
+
+    return orientation;
+}
+
 void CMasterAlgorithm::runOrientationCycle(Hyprutils::String::CVarList2* vars, int next) {
     std::vector<eOrientation> cycle;
     if (vars != nullptr)
@@ -854,7 +882,7 @@ void CMasterAlgorithm::runOrientationCycle(Hyprutils::String::CVarList2* vars, i
 
     int nextOrPrev = 0;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < cycle.size(); ++i) {
-        if (m_workspaceData.orientation == cycle[i]) {
+        if (m_workspaceData.explicitOrientation.value_or(defaultOrientation()) == cycle[i]) {
             nextOrPrev = i + next;
             break;
         }
@@ -865,36 +893,12 @@ void CMasterAlgorithm::runOrientationCycle(Hyprutils::String::CVarList2* vars, i
     else if (nextOrPrev < 0)
         nextOrPrev = cycle.size() + (nextOrPrev % sc<int>(cycle.size()));
 
-    m_workspaceData.orientation = cycle.at(nextOrPrev);
+    m_workspaceData.explicitOrientation = cycle.at(nextOrPrev);
     calculateWorkspace();
 }
 
 eOrientation CMasterAlgorithm::getDynamicOrientation() {
-    static auto PORIENT = CConfigValue<std::string>("master:orientation");
-
-    const auto  WORKSPACERULE = g_pConfigManager->getWorkspaceRuleFor(m_parent->space()->workspace());
-    std::string orientationString;
-    if (WORKSPACERULE.layoutopts.contains("orientation"))
-        orientationString = WORKSPACERULE.layoutopts.at("orientation");
-    else
-        orientationString = *PORIENT;
-
-    eOrientation orientation = m_workspaceData.orientation;
-    // override if workspace rule is set
-    if (!orientationString.empty()) {
-        if (orientationString == "top")
-            orientation = ORIENTATION_TOP;
-        else if (orientationString == "right")
-            orientation = ORIENTATION_RIGHT;
-        else if (orientationString == "bottom")
-            orientation = ORIENTATION_BOTTOM;
-        else if (orientationString == "center")
-            orientation = ORIENTATION_CENTER;
-        else
-            orientation = ORIENTATION_LEFT;
-    }
-
-    return orientation;
+    return m_workspaceData.explicitOrientation.value_or(defaultOrientation());
 }
 
 int CMasterAlgorithm::getNodesNo() {
diff --git a/src/layout/algorithm/tiled/master/MasterAlgorithm.hpp b/src/layout/algorithm/tiled/master/MasterAlgorithm.hpp
index 4524587f..5cfa6b36 100644
--- a/src/layout/algorithm/tiled/master/MasterAlgorithm.hpp
+++ b/src/layout/algorithm/tiled/master/MasterAlgorithm.hpp
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ namespace Layout::Tiled {
     };
 
     struct SMasterWorkspaceData {
-        WORKSPACEID  workspaceID = WORKSPACE_INVALID;
-        eOrientation orientation = ORIENTATION_LEFT;
+        WORKSPACEID                 workspaceID = WORKSPACE_INVALID;
+        std::optional<eOrientation> explicitOrientation;
         // Previously focused non-master window when `focusmaster previous` command was issued
         WP<ITarget> focusMasterPrev;
 
@@ -71,5 +71,6 @@ namespace Layout::Tiled {
         SP<ITarget>                      getNextTarget(SP<ITarget>, bool, bool);
         int                              getMastersNo();
         bool                             isWindowTiled(PHLWINDOW);
+        eOrientation                     defaultOrientation();
     };
 };
\ No newline at end of file