diff --git a/sway/desktop/output.c b/sway/desktop/output.c
index b99e9a91..974cd56c 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/output.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/output.c
@@ -322,8 +322,11 @@ static void render_container_simple_border_normal(struct sway_output *output,
 	struct wlr_box box;
 	float color[4];
 
-	struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(con, C_WORKSPACE);
-	int other_views = container_count_descendants_of_type(ws, C_VIEW) - 1;
+	int other_views = 1;
+	if (config->hide_edge_borders == E_SMART) {
+		struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(con, C_WORKSPACE);
+		other_views = container_count_descendants_of_type(ws, C_VIEW) - 1;
+	}
 
 	if (config->hide_edge_borders != E_VERTICAL
 			&& config->hide_edge_borders != E_BOTH
@@ -424,8 +427,11 @@ static void render_container_simple_border_pixel(struct sway_output *output,
 	struct wlr_box box;
 	float color[4];
 
-	struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(con, C_WORKSPACE);
-	int other_views = container_count_descendants_of_type(ws, C_VIEW) - 1;
+	int other_views = 1;
+	if (config->hide_edge_borders == E_SMART) {
+		struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(con, C_WORKSPACE);
+		other_views = container_count_descendants_of_type(ws, C_VIEW) - 1;
+	}
 
 	if (config->hide_edge_borders != E_VERTICAL
 			&& config->hide_edge_borders != E_BOTH
diff --git a/sway/tree/view.c b/sway/tree/view.c
index ae8709ba..e2cb8a7a 100644
--- a/sway/tree/view.c
+++ b/sway/tree/view.c
@@ -100,8 +100,11 @@ void view_autoconfigure(struct sway_view *view) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(view->swayc, C_WORKSPACE);
-	int other_views = container_count_descendants_of_type(ws, C_VIEW) - 1;
+	int other_views = 1;
+	if (config->hide_edge_borders == E_SMART) {
+		struct sway_container *ws = container_parent(view->swayc, C_WORKSPACE);
+		other_views = container_count_descendants_of_type(ws, C_VIEW) - 1;
+	}
 
 	double x, y, width, height;
 	x = y = width = height = 0;