diff --git a/sway/tree/workspace.c b/sway/tree/workspace.c
index 733a002b4..b57fe5f2c 100644
--- a/sway/tree/workspace.c
+++ b/sway/tree/workspace.c
@@ -842,6 +842,8 @@ struct sway_container *workspace_insert_tiling(struct sway_workspace *workspace,
 	if (config->default_layout != L_NONE) {
 		con = container_split(con, config->default_layout);
 	}
+	if (index < 0) index = 0;
+	else if (index > workspace->tiling->length) index = workspace->tiling->length;
 	workspace_insert_tiling_direct(workspace, con, index);
 	return con;
 }