diff --git a/src/manage.c b/src/manage.c
index 9eee3578..a7002bf3 100644
--- a/src/manage.c
+++ b/src/manage.c
@@ -450,6 +450,12 @@ void manage_window(xcb_window_t window, xcb_get_window_attributes_cookie_t cooki
         }
     }
 
+    if (nc->border_style == BS_PIXEL) {
+        /* if the border style is BS_PIXEL, explicitly set the border width of
+         * the new container */
+        nc->current_border_width = (want_floating ? config.default_floating_border_width : config.default_border_width);
+    }
+
     /* to avoid getting an UnmapNotify event due to reparenting, we temporarily
      * declare no interest in any state change event of this window */
     values[0] = XCB_NONE;
diff --git a/testcases/t/174-border-config.t b/testcases/t/174-border-config.t
index 56ad865a..3a8285c4 100644
--- a/testcases/t/174-border-config.t
+++ b/testcases/t/174-border-config.t
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ $first = open_window;
 @content = @{get_ws_content($tmp)};
 ok(@content == 1, 'one container opened');
 is($content[0]->{border}, 'pixel', 'border pixel by default');
-is($content[0]->{current_border_width}, -1, 'border width pixels -1 (default)');
+is($content[0]->{current_border_width}, 1, 'border width pixels 1 (default)');
 
 exit_gracefully($pid);