diff --git a/include/randr.h b/include/randr.h
index 2c379f6f..998f0d59 100644
--- a/include/randr.h
+++ b/include/randr.h
@@ -118,4 +118,4 @@ Output *get_output_next_wrap(direction_t direction, Output *current);
  * Creates an output covering the root window.
  *
  */
-void create_root_output(xcb_connection_t *conn);
+Output *create_root_output(xcb_connection_t *conn);
diff --git a/src/randr.c b/src/randr.c
index 23dd98d5..e4522c4d 100644
--- a/src/randr.c
+++ b/src/randr.c
@@ -239,19 +239,17 @@ Output *get_output_next(direction_t direction, Output *current, output_close_far
  * Creates an output covering the root window.
  *
  */
-void create_root_output(xcb_connection_t *conn) {
-    root_output = scalloc(1, sizeof(Output));
+Output *create_root_output(xcb_connection_t *conn) {
+    Output *s = scalloc(1, sizeof(Output));
 
-    root_output->active = true;
-    root_output->rect.x = 0;
-    root_output->rect.y = 0;
-    root_output->rect.width = root_screen->width_in_pixels;
-    root_output->rect.height = root_screen->height_in_pixels;
-    root_output->name = "xroot-0";
-    output_init_con(root_output);
-    init_ws_for_output(root_output, output_get_content(root_output->con));
+    s->active = false;
+    s->rect.x = 0;
+    s->rect.y = 0;
+    s->rect.width = root_screen->width_in_pixels;
+    s->rect.height = root_screen->height_in_pixels;
+    s->name = "xroot-0";
 
-    TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&outputs, root_output, outputs);
+    return s;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -833,11 +831,18 @@ void randr_query_outputs(void) {
 void randr_init(int *event_base) {
     const xcb_query_extension_reply_t *extreply;
 
-    create_root_output(conn);
+    root_output = create_root_output(conn);
+    TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&outputs, root_output, outputs);
 
     extreply = xcb_get_extension_data(conn, &xcb_randr_id);
-    if (!extreply->present)
+    if (!extreply->present) {
+        DLOG("RandR is not present, activating root output.\n");
+        root_output->active = true;
+        output_init_con(root_output);
+        init_ws_for_output(root_output, output_get_content(root_output->con));
+
         return;
+    }
 
     randr_query_outputs();
 
diff --git a/src/xinerama.c b/src/xinerama.c
index 049e1bc4..fb3b8603 100644
--- a/src/xinerama.c
+++ b/src/xinerama.c
@@ -87,6 +87,19 @@ static void query_screens(xcb_connection_t *conn) {
     }
 }
 
+/*
+ * This creates the root_output (borrowed from randr.c) and uses it
+ * as the sole output for this session.
+ *
+ */
+static void use_root_output(xcb_connection_t *conn) {
+    Output *s = create_root_output(conn);
+    s->active = true;
+    TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&outputs, s, outputs);
+    output_init_con(s);
+    init_ws_for_output(s, output_get_content(s->con));
+}
+
 /*
  * We have just established a connection to the X server and need the initial Xinerama
  * information to setup workspaces for each screen.
@@ -95,14 +108,14 @@ static void query_screens(xcb_connection_t *conn) {
 void xinerama_init(void) {
     if (!xcb_get_extension_data(conn, &xcb_xinerama_id)->present) {
         DLOG("Xinerama extension not found, using root output.\n");
-        create_root_output(conn);
+        use_root_output(conn);
     } else {
         xcb_xinerama_is_active_reply_t *reply;
         reply = xcb_xinerama_is_active_reply(conn, xcb_xinerama_is_active(conn), NULL);
 
         if (reply == NULL || !reply->state) {
             DLOG("Xinerama is not active (in your X-Server), using root output.\n");
-            create_root_output(conn);
+            use_root_output(conn);
         } else
             query_screens(conn);