diff --git a/sway/commands/layout.c b/sway/commands/layout.c
index a32c908b8..10462bf16 100644
--- a/sway/commands/layout.c
+++ b/sway/commands/layout.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_layout(int argc, char **argv) {
 		container = container->pending.parent;
 		// If parent has only a singe child operate on its parent and
 		// flatten once, like i3
-		if (container && container->pending.children->length == 1) {
+		if (container && container->pending.children->length == 1 && container->pending.parent && container->pending.parent->pending.children->length == 1) {
 			struct sway_container *child = container->pending.children->items[0];
 			struct sway_container *parent = container->pending.parent;
 			container_replace(container, child);