diff --git a/sway/commands/bar.c b/sway/commands/bar.c
index 73be704061..9c7357dd7b 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar.c
@@ -82,26 +82,30 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_bar(int argc, char **argv) {
 		++argv; --argc;
 	}
 
-	if (!config->current_bar && config->reading) {
-		// Create new bar with default values
-		struct bar_config *bar = default_bar_config();
-		if (!bar) {
-			return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE,
-					"Unable to allocate bar state");
-		}
+	if (!config->current_bar) {
+		if (config->reading) {
+			// Create new bar with default values
+			struct bar_config *bar = default_bar_config();
+			if (!bar) {
+				return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE,
+						"Unable to allocate bar state");
+			}
+
+			// set bar id
+			int len = snprintf(NULL, 0, "bar-%d", config->bars->length - 1) + 1;
+			bar->id = malloc(len * sizeof(char));
+			if (bar->id) {
+				snprintf(bar->id, len, "bar-%d", config->bars->length - 1);
+			} else {
+				return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "Unable to allocate bar ID");
+			}
 
-		// set bar id
-		const int len = snprintf(NULL, 0, "bar-%d", config->bars->length - 1) + 1;
-		bar->id = malloc(len * sizeof(char));
-		if (bar->id) {
-			snprintf(bar->id, len, "bar-%d", config->bars->length - 1);
+			// Set current bar
+			config->current_bar = bar;
+			sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Creating bar %s", bar->id);
 		} else {
-			return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "Unable to allocate bar ID");
+			return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
 		}
-
-		// Set current bar
-		config->current_bar = bar;
-		sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Creating bar %s", bar->id);
 	}
 
 	if (find_handler(argv[0], bar_config_handlers,
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/bind.c b/sway/commands/bar/bind.c
index f94b481187..b4b5bc459d 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/bind.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/bind.c
@@ -75,9 +75,6 @@ static struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_bind(int argc, char **argv, bool code,
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, command, EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, minargs))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 
 	struct bar_binding *binding = calloc(1, sizeof(struct bar_binding));
 	if (!binding) {
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/binding_mode_indicator.c b/sway/commands/bar/binding_mode_indicator.c
index 29c93ddc68..b58d8a838f 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/binding_mode_indicator.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/binding_mode_indicator.c
@@ -10,10 +10,7 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_binding_mode_indicator(int argc, char **argv) {
 			"binding_mode_indicator", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
-	config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator = 
+	config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator =
 		parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator);
 	if (config->current_bar->binding_mode_indicator) {
 		sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Enabling binding mode indicator on bar: %s",
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/font.c b/sway/commands/bar/font.c
index cf1f759ec4..62987f3e3f 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/font.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/font.c
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_font(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "font", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 	char *font = join_args(argv, argc);
 	free(config->current_bar->font);
 	config->current_bar->font = font;
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/gaps.c b/sway/commands/bar/gaps.c
index 83480fb50b..f99966b408 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/gaps.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/gaps.c
@@ -13,9 +13,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_gaps(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "gaps", EXPECTED_AT_MOST, 4))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 
 	int top = 0, right = 0, bottom = 0, left = 0;
 
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/icon_theme.c b/sway/commands/bar/icon_theme.c
index 54b7b16e34..6ac07843d8 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/icon_theme.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/icon_theme.c
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_icon_theme(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return error;
 	}
 
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
-
 	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "[Bar %s] Setting icon theme to %s",
 			config->current_bar->id, argv[0]);
 	free(config->current_bar->icon_theme);
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/modifier.c b/sway/commands/bar/modifier.c
index d25d01d4bd..983d21795c 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/modifier.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/modifier.c
@@ -10,10 +10,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_modifier(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return error;
 	}
 
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
-
 	uint32_t mod = 0;
 	if (strcmp(argv[0], "none") != 0) {
 		list_t *split = split_string(argv[0], "+");
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/output.c b/sway/commands/bar/output.c
index 956c195970..6a78b30d01 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/output.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/output.c
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_output(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "output", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 
 	const char *output = argv[0];
 	list_t *outputs = config->current_bar->outputs;
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/pango_markup.c b/sway/commands/bar/pango_markup.c
index b0958cf115..ee51390da6 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/pango_markup.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/pango_markup.c
@@ -9,11 +9,8 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_pango_markup(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "pango_markup", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
-	config->current_bar->pango_markup 
-		= parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->pango_markup);
+	config->current_bar->pango_markup =
+		parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->pango_markup);
 	if (config->current_bar->pango_markup) {
 		sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Enabling pango markup for bar: %s",
 				config->current_bar->id);
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/position.c b/sway/commands/bar/position.c
index 4456d72415..b207de0bf4 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/position.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/position.c
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_position(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "position", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 	char *valid[] = { "top", "bottom" };
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(valid) / sizeof(valid[0]); ++i) {
 		if (strcasecmp(valid[i], argv[0]) == 0) {
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/separator_symbol.c b/sway/commands/bar/separator_symbol.c
index 76e99b4904..6737d4d24d 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/separator_symbol.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/separator_symbol.c
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_separator_symbol(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "separator_symbol", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 	free(config->current_bar->separator_symbol);
 	config->current_bar->separator_symbol = strdup(argv[0]);
 	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Settings separator_symbol '%s' for bar: %s",
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/status_command.c b/sway/commands/bar/status_command.c
index 0b58e5fa28..77a73ab60b 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/status_command.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/status_command.c
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_status_command(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "status_command", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 	free(config->current_bar->status_command);
 	config->current_bar->status_command = NULL;
 
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/strip_workspace_name.c b/sway/commands/bar/strip_workspace_name.c
index 1aa393599e..764321a89b 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/strip_workspace_name.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/strip_workspace_name.c
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_strip_workspace_name(int argc, char **argv) {
 				"strip_workspace_name", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 
 	config->current_bar->strip_workspace_name =
 		parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->strip_workspace_name);
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/strip_workspace_numbers.c b/sway/commands/bar/strip_workspace_numbers.c
index 56c4c4a12e..2d7fe1a7f5 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/strip_workspace_numbers.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/strip_workspace_numbers.c
@@ -10,10 +10,7 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_strip_workspace_numbers(int argc, char **argv) {
 				"strip_workspace_numbers", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
-	
+
 	config->current_bar->strip_workspace_numbers =
 		parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->strip_workspace_numbers);
 
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/swaybar_command.c b/sway/commands/bar/swaybar_command.c
index b54bafa9f9..0892a898af 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/swaybar_command.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/swaybar_command.c
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_swaybar_command(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "swaybar_command", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 	free(config->current_bar->swaybar_command);
 	config->current_bar->swaybar_command = join_args(argv, argc);
 	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Using custom swaybar command: %s",
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/tray_bind.c b/sway/commands/bar/tray_bind.c
index 7fe67c4231..c910d1065c 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/tray_bind.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/tray_bind.c
@@ -12,9 +12,6 @@ static struct cmd_results *tray_bind(int argc, char **argv, bool code) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, command, EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 2))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 
 	struct tray_binding *binding = calloc(1, sizeof(struct tray_binding));
 	if (!binding) {
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/tray_output.c b/sway/commands/bar/tray_output.c
index 16e16f603d..8bfdf1939f 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/tray_output.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/tray_output.c
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_tray_output(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return error;
 	}
 
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
-
 	list_t *outputs = config->current_bar->tray_outputs;
 	if (!outputs) {
 		config->current_bar->tray_outputs = outputs = create_list();
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/tray_padding.c b/sway/commands/bar/tray_padding.c
index f43cfe4fe4..f90b6003f8 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/tray_padding.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/tray_padding.c
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_tray_padding(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return error;
 	}
 
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
 	struct bar_config *bar = config->current_bar;
 
 	char *end;
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/workspace_buttons.c b/sway/commands/bar/workspace_buttons.c
index 792ef605aa..6bfb16165c 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/workspace_buttons.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/workspace_buttons.c
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_workspace_buttons(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "workspace_buttons", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
-	config->current_bar->workspace_buttons = 
+	config->current_bar->workspace_buttons =
 		parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->workspace_buttons);
 	if (config->current_bar->workspace_buttons) {
 		sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Enabling workspace buttons on bar: %s",
diff --git a/sway/commands/bar/wrap_scroll.c b/sway/commands/bar/wrap_scroll.c
index decd238d4f..f57e393df5 100644
--- a/sway/commands/bar/wrap_scroll.c
+++ b/sway/commands/bar/wrap_scroll.c
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ struct cmd_results *bar_cmd_wrap_scroll(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "wrap_scroll", EXPECTED_EQUAL_TO, 1))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	if (!config->current_bar) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "No bar defined.");
-	}
-	config->current_bar->wrap_scroll = 
+	config->current_bar->wrap_scroll =
 			parse_boolean(argv[0], config->current_bar->wrap_scroll);
 	if (config->current_bar->wrap_scroll) {
 		sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Enabling wrap scroll on bar: %s",