diff --git a/herbstluftwm/.config/herbstluftwm/autostart b/herbstluftwm/.config/herbstluftwm/autostart
index 1558dfb..bd8f258 100755
--- a/herbstluftwm/.config/herbstluftwm/autostart
+++ b/herbstluftwm/.config/herbstluftwm/autostart
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ hc keybind $Mod-c spawn hrunorraise URxvt urxvtc
 hc keybind $Mod-w spawn hrunorraise Conkeror conkeror
 hc keybind Control-Mod1-l spawn i3lock --color 000000
 
+# Set the default frame layout to max before the tags are created. If
+# the tags are created before the default layout is set they will all
+# be using the vertical layout.
+hc set default_frame_layout 2
+
 # tags
 TAG_NAMES=( {1..9} )
 TAG_KEYS=( {1..9} 0 )