diff --git a/src/commands.c b/src/commands.c
index a9187866..264cd04f 100644
--- a/src/commands.c
+++ b/src/commands.c
@@ -1257,28 +1257,34 @@ void cmd_focus_direction(I3_CMD, const char *direction) {
 void cmd_focus_window_mode(I3_CMD, const char *window_mode) {
     DLOG("window_mode = %s\n", window_mode);
 
-    Con *ws = con_get_workspace(focused);
-    if (ws != NULL) {
-        if (strcmp(window_mode, "mode_toggle") == 0) {
-            if (con_inside_floating(focused))
-                window_mode = "tiling";
-            else
-                window_mode = "floating";
-        }
-        Con *current;
-        TAILQ_FOREACH(current, &(ws->focus_head), focused) {
-            if ((strcmp(window_mode, "floating") == 0 && current->type != CT_FLOATING_CON) ||
-                (strcmp(window_mode, "tiling") == 0 && current->type == CT_FLOATING_CON))
-                continue;
-
-            con_focus(con_descend_focused(current));
-            break;
-        }
+    bool to_floating = false;
+    if (strcmp(window_mode, "mode_toggle") == 0) {
+        to_floating = !con_inside_floating(focused);
+    } else if (strcmp(window_mode, "floating") == 0) {
+        to_floating = true;
+    } else if (strcmp(window_mode, "tiling") == 0) {
+        to_floating = false;
     }
 
-    cmd_output->needs_tree_render = true;
-    // XXX: default reply for now, make this a better reply
-    ysuccess(true);
+    Con *ws = con_get_workspace(focused);
+    Con *current;
+    bool success = false;
+    TAILQ_FOREACH(current, &(ws->focus_head), focused) {
+        if ((to_floating && current->type != CT_FLOATING_CON) ||
+            (!to_floating && current->type == CT_FLOATING_CON))
+            continue;
+
+        con_focus(con_descend_focused(current));
+        success = true;
+        break;
+    }
+
+    if (success) {
+        cmd_output->needs_tree_render = true;
+        ysuccess(true);
+    } else {
+        yerror("Failed to find a %s container in workspace.", to_floating ? "floating" : "tiling");
+    }
 }
 
 /*