diff --git a/cmd/wm/area.c b/cmd/wm/area.c
index 600f614b..ceecf698 100644
--- a/cmd/wm/area.c
+++ b/cmd/wm/area.c
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ destroy_area(Area *a)
 		free(a->client);
 	cext_array_detach((void **)p->area, a, &p->areasz);
 	p->narea--;
+	if(p->sel >= p->narea)
+		p->sel = p->narea - 1;
 	free(a);
 }