diff --git a/home/rachel.nix b/home/rachel.nix
index 378e09c..aa3f2ae 100644
--- a/home/rachel.nix
+++ b/home/rachel.nix
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ in rec {
         ]}"
         current_display=$(wmctrl -d|awk '/*/ {print $1}')
 
+        out=$(
         wmctrl -lx |
           awk -v current_display="$current_display" '{
             if ($2==current_display) {
@@ -111,6 +112,10 @@ in rec {
               printf "%s ", "["tolower(window_title[2])"]"
             }
           }'
+        )
+
+        # workaround for clearing on empty output
+        printf '%s\n' "$out"
       '';
       executable = true;
     };