diff --git a/virtualdesktops.cpp b/virtualdesktops.cpp
--- a/virtualdesktops.cpp
+++ b/virtualdesktops.cpp
@@ -630,6 +630,9 @@
     }
 
     m_rows = rows;
+    if (m_virtualDesktopManagement) {
+        m_virtualDesktopManagement->setRows(m_rows);
+    }
 
     int columns = count() / m_rows;
     if (count() % m_rows > 0) {
@@ -678,6 +681,9 @@
         m_rows = count() == 1u ? 1 : 2;
         columns = count() / m_rows;
     }
+    if (m_virtualDesktopManagement) {
+        m_virtualDesktopManagement->setRows(m_rows);
+    }
     setNETDesktopLayout(orientation,
         columns, m_rows, 0 //rootInfo->desktopLayoutCorner() // Not really worth implementing right now.
     );
@@ -724,6 +730,9 @@
 
     int rows = group.readEntry<int>("Rows", 2);
     m_rows = qBound(1, rows, n);
+    if (m_virtualDesktopManagement) {
+        m_virtualDesktopManagement->setRows(m_rows);
+    }
 
     if (m_rootInfo) {
         // avoid weird cases like having 3 rows for 4 desktops, where the last row is unused
@@ -813,6 +822,9 @@
     }
 
     m_rows = qMax(1u, height);
+    if (m_virtualDesktopManagement) {
+        m_virtualDesktopManagement->setRows(m_rows);
+    }
 
     m_grid.update(QSize(width, height), orientation, m_desktops);
     // TODO: why is there no call to m_rootInfo->setDesktopLayout?