diff --git a/include/view.h b/include/view.h
index f18904fc..824657e8 100644
--- a/include/view.h
+++ b/include/view.h
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ void view_center(struct view *view, const struct wlr_box *ref);
  * view_place_initial - apply initial placement strategy to view
  * @view: view to be placed
  */
-void view_place_initial(struct view *view);
+void view_place_initial(struct view *view, bool allow_cursor);
 void view_constrain_size_to_that_of_usable_area(struct view *view);
 
 void view_restore_to(struct view *view, struct wlr_box geometry);
diff --git a/src/view.c b/src/view.c
index c48ff9e0..8c26a8f1 100644
--- a/src/view.c
+++ b/src/view.c
@@ -728,9 +728,9 @@ view_center(struct view *view, const struct wlr_box *ref)
 }
 
 void
-view_place_initial(struct view *view)
+view_place_initial(struct view *view, bool allow_cursor)
 {
-	if (rc.placement_policy == LAB_PLACE_CURSOR) {
+	if (allow_cursor && rc.placement_policy == LAB_PLACE_CURSOR) {
 		view_move_to_cursor(view);
 		return;
 	} else if (rc.placement_policy == LAB_PLACE_AUTOMATIC) {
diff --git a/src/xdg.c b/src/xdg.c
index 5787836b..5347d78c 100644
--- a/src/xdg.c
+++ b/src/xdg.c
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ set_initial_position(struct view *view)
 	}
 
 	/* All other views are placed according to a configured strategy */
-	view_place_initial(view);
+	view_place_initial(view, /* allow_cursor */ true);
 }
 
 static const char *
diff --git a/src/xwayland.c b/src/xwayland.c
index 2d86427f..d032fd43 100644
--- a/src/xwayland.c
+++ b/src/xwayland.c
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ set_initial_position(struct view *view,
 		view_constrain_size_to_that_of_usable_area(view);
 
 		if (view_is_floating(view)) {
-			view_place_initial(view);
+			view_place_initial(view, /* allow_cursor */ true);
 		} else {
 			/*
 			 * View is maximized/fullscreen. Center the