diff --git a/bar.c b/bar.c
index 152db52..c6d5677 100644
--- a/bar.c
+++ b/bar.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ static xcb_gcontext_t   draw_gc;
 static xcb_gcontext_t   clear_gc;
 static xcb_gcontext_t   underl_gc;
 static int              bar_width;
-static int              bar_bottom;
+static int              bar_bottom = BAR_BOTTOM;
 static fontset_item_t   fontset[FONT_MAX]; 
 static fontset_item_t   *sel_font = &fontset[FONT_MAIN];
 
diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 56f1177..422ffae 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 #define BAR_HEIGHT  18
 /* The thickness of the underline (in pixels) */
 #define BAR_UNDERLINE_HEIGHT 2
+/* Default bar position, overwritten by '-b' switch */
+#define BAR_BOTTOM 0
 /* The font used for the bar */
 #define BAR_MAIN_FONT       "-*-terminus-medium-r-normal-*-12-*-*-*-c-*-*-1"
 #define BAR_FALLBACK_FONT   "fixed"