diff --git a/tabbed-wlroots.c b/tabbed-wlroots.c
index 13ebac9..3391eba 100644
--- a/tabbed-wlroots.c
+++ b/tabbed-wlroots.c
@@ -435,14 +435,16 @@ static void handle_request_maximize(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
     (void)data;
     struct tabbed_app *app = wl_container_of(listener, app, request_maximize);
     struct wlr_xdg_toplevel *toplevel = app->toplevel;
-    wlr_xdg_toplevel_set_maximized(toplevel, true);
+    if (toplevel->base->initialized)
+        wlr_xdg_toplevel_set_maximized(toplevel, true);
 }
 
 static void handle_request_fullscreen(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
     (void)data;
     struct tabbed_app *app = wl_container_of(listener, app, request_fullscreen);
     struct wlr_xdg_toplevel *toplevel = app->toplevel;
-    wlr_xdg_toplevel_set_fullscreen(toplevel, false);
+    if (toplevel->base->initialized)
+        wlr_xdg_toplevel_set_fullscreen(toplevel, false);
 }
 
 static void handle_request_minimize(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {