diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.c b/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.c
index 585ee7034..1ad342a44 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ struct _MetaMonitorConfigManager
   MetaMonitorConfigStore *config_store;
 
   MetaMonitorsConfig *current_config;
+  MetaMonitorsConfig *initial_config;
   GQueue config_history;
 };
 
@@ -579,9 +580,10 @@ create_logical_monitor_config_from_output (MetaMonitorManager           *monitor
 }
 
 MetaMonitorsConfig *
-meta_monitor_config_manager_create_current (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_manager)
+meta_monitor_config_manager_create_initial (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_manager)
 {
   MetaMonitorManager *monitor_manager = config_manager->monitor_manager;
+  MetaMonitorsConfig *initial_config;
   GList *logical_monitor_configs;
   MetaMonitor *primary_monitor;
   MetaLogicalMonitorLayoutMode layout_mode;
@@ -589,6 +591,9 @@ meta_monitor_config_manager_create_current (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_man
   GList *monitors;
   GList *l;
 
+  if (config_manager->initial_config != NULL)
+    return g_object_ref (config_manager->initial_config);
+
   if (meta_monitor_config_store_get_config_count (config_manager->config_store) > 0)
     return NULL;
 
@@ -630,10 +635,14 @@ meta_monitor_config_manager_create_current (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_man
                                                logical_monitor_config);
     }
 
-  return meta_monitors_config_new (monitor_manager,
-                                   logical_monitor_configs,
-                                   layout_mode,
-                                   META_MONITORS_CONFIG_FLAG_NONE);
+  initial_config = meta_monitors_config_new (monitor_manager,
+                                             logical_monitor_configs,
+                                             layout_mode,
+                                             META_MONITORS_CONFIG_FLAG_NONE);
+
+  config_manager->initial_config = g_object_ref (initial_config);
+
+  return initial_config;
 }
 
 MetaMonitorsConfig *
@@ -1162,6 +1171,7 @@ meta_monitor_config_manager_dispose (GObject *object)
     META_MONITOR_CONFIG_MANAGER (object);
 
   g_clear_object (&config_manager->current_config);
+  g_clear_object (&config_manager->initial_config);
   meta_monitor_config_manager_clear_history (config_manager);
 
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_monitor_config_manager_parent_class)->dispose (object);
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.h b/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.h
index c36df38e6..29ef8f8ce 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.h
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ gboolean meta_monitor_config_manager_assign (MetaMonitorManager *manager,
 
 MetaMonitorsConfig * meta_monitor_config_manager_get_stored (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_manager);
 
-MetaMonitorsConfig * meta_monitor_config_manager_create_current (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_manager);
+MetaMonitorsConfig * meta_monitor_config_manager_create_initial (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_manager);
 MetaMonitorsConfig * meta_monitor_config_manager_create_linear (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_manager);
 
 MetaMonitorsConfig * meta_monitor_config_manager_create_fallback (MetaMonitorConfigManager *config_manager);
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
index 4503eb841..f7ada0136 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
@@ -496,9 +496,11 @@ should_use_stored_config (MetaMonitorManager *manager)
 MetaMonitorsConfig *
 meta_monitor_manager_ensure_configured (MetaMonitorManager *manager)
 {
+  g_autoptr (MetaMonitorsConfig) initial_config = NULL;
   MetaMonitorsConfig *config = NULL;
   GError *error = NULL;
   gboolean use_stored_config;
+  MetaMonitorsConfigKey *current_state_key;
   MetaMonitorsConfigMethod method;
   MetaMonitorsConfigMethod fallback_method =
     META_MONITORS_CONFIG_METHOD_TEMPORARY;
@@ -509,6 +511,18 @@ meta_monitor_manager_ensure_configured (MetaMonitorManager *manager)
   else
     method = META_MONITORS_CONFIG_METHOD_TEMPORARY;
 
+  initial_config = meta_monitor_config_manager_create_initial (manager->config_manager);
+
+  if (initial_config)
+    {
+      current_state_key = meta_create_monitors_config_key_for_current_state (manager);
+
+      /* don't ever reuse initial configuration, if the monitor topology changed
+       */
+      if (current_state_key && !meta_monitors_config_key_equal (current_state_key, initial_config->key))
+        g_clear_object (&initial_config);
+    }
+
   if (use_stored_config)
     {
       config = meta_monitor_config_manager_get_stored (manager->config_manager);
@@ -576,7 +590,7 @@ meta_monitor_manager_ensure_configured (MetaMonitorManager *manager)
       g_clear_object (&config);
     }
 
-  config = meta_monitor_config_manager_create_current (manager->config_manager);
+  config = g_steal_pointer (&initial_config);
   if (config)
     {
       if (!meta_monitor_manager_apply_monitors_config (manager,