diff --git a/autostart b/autostart
index 6fc6e4c..3e3b1b5 100755
--- a/autostart
+++ b/autostart
@@ -21,12 +21,15 @@ rm $PIDS_FILE
 
 hc emit_hook reload
 
+hc set default_frame_layout 1 # horizontal
+hc set_layout horizontal      # need to manually change the current one as well
+hc set tree_style '╾│ ├└╼─┐'
+
 ./wallpaper.sh
 ./bindings.sh
 ./rules.sh
 ./styling.sh
 
-hc set tree_style '╾│ ├└╼─┐'
 hc unlock
 hc detect_monitors