diff --git a/src/Compositor.cpp b/src/Compositor.cpp
index 7b6a9e08..b06710f6 100644
--- a/src/Compositor.cpp
+++ b/src/Compositor.cpp
@@ -2142,6 +2142,8 @@ void CCompositor::moveWorkspaceToMonitor(PHLWORKSPACE pWorkspace, PHLMONITOR pMo
     if (!SWITCHINGISACTIVE)
         nextWorkspaceOnMonitorID = pWorkspace->m_id;
     else {
+        PHLWORKSPACE newWorkspace; // for holding a ref to the new workspace that might be created
+
         for (auto const& w : getWorkspaces()) {
             if (w->m_monitor == POLDMON && w->m_id != pWorkspace->m_id && !w->m_isSpecialWorkspace) {
                 nextWorkspaceOnMonitorID = w->m_id;
@@ -2161,7 +2163,7 @@ void CCompositor::moveWorkspaceToMonitor(PHLWORKSPACE pWorkspace, PHLMONITOR pMo
             Debug::log(LOG, "moveWorkspaceToMonitor: Plugging gap with new {}", nextWorkspaceOnMonitorID);
 
             if (POLDMON)
-                g_pCompositor->createNewWorkspace(nextWorkspaceOnMonitorID, POLDMON->m_id);
+                newWorkspace = g_pCompositor->createNewWorkspace(nextWorkspaceOnMonitorID, POLDMON->m_id);
         }
 
         Debug::log(LOG, "moveWorkspaceToMonitor: Plugging gap with existing {}", nextWorkspaceOnMonitorID);