diff --git a/src/events/Windows.cpp b/src/events/Windows.cpp
index d7c3e1ec..b2e93216 100644
--- a/src/events/Windows.cpp
+++ b/src/events/Windows.cpp
@@ -122,13 +122,6 @@ void Events::listener_mapWindow(void* owner, void* data) {
                 requestedWorkspace = WORKSPACERQ;
             }
 
-            if (requestedWorkspace == "special") {
-                requestedWorkspace = "";
-                workspaceSilent = false;
-                Debug::log(LOG, "windowrule=workspace special is not allowed!");
-                continue;
-            }
-
             Debug::log(LOG, "Rule workspace matched by window %x, %s applied.", PWINDOW, r.szValue.c_str());
         } else if (r.szRule.find("float") == 0) {
             PWINDOW->m_bIsFloating = true;
@@ -177,6 +170,10 @@ void Events::listener_mapWindow(void* owner, void* data) {
             }
 
             requestedWorkspace = requestedWorkspace.substr(0, requestedWorkspace.find_first_of(' '));
+
+            if (requestedWorkspace == "special") {
+                workspaceSilent = true;
+            }
         }
 
         if (!workspaceSilent) {
diff --git a/src/managers/KeybindManager.cpp b/src/managers/KeybindManager.cpp
index d33cd0b6..7f9bb39a 100644
--- a/src/managers/KeybindManager.cpp
+++ b/src/managers/KeybindManager.cpp
@@ -898,7 +898,12 @@ void CKeybindManager::toggleSpecialWorkspace(std::string args) {
         }
     } else {
         auto PSPECIALWORKSPACE = g_pCompositor->getWorkspaceByID(SPECIAL_WORKSPACE_ID);
-        
+
+        if (!PSPECIALWORKSPACE) {
+            // ??? happens sometimes...?
+            PSPECIALWORKSPACE = g_pCompositor->m_vWorkspaces.emplace_back(std::make_unique<CWorkspace>(g_pCompositor->m_pLastMonitor->ID, "special", true)).get();
+        }
+
         g_pCompositor->m_pLastMonitor->specialWorkspaceOpen = true;
         g_pLayoutManager->getCurrentLayout()->recalculateMonitor(g_pCompositor->m_pLastMonitor->ID);