diff --git a/compositor/src/input.rs b/compositor/src/input.rs
index bc6547b..99540db 100644
--- a/compositor/src/input.rs
+++ b/compositor/src/input.rs
@@ -507,7 +507,11 @@ impl Ferese {
             .map(|workspace| workspace.id)
         {
             self.activate_managed_workspace(workspace);
-        } else if next {
+        } else if next
+            && self.workspaces.workspace(current).is_some_and(|workspace| {
+                workspace.layout.window_ids().next().is_some() || !workspace.floating.is_empty()
+            })
+        {
             let next_number = self
                 .workspaces
                 .iter()
diff --git a/compositor/src/state.rs b/compositor/src/state.rs
index af40894..f0307b4 100644
--- a/compositor/src/state.rs
+++ b/compositor/src/state.rs
@@ -1263,6 +1263,15 @@ impl Ferese {
     }
 
     pub fn relayout(&mut self) {
+        let protected = self
+            .output_workspaces
+            .connected_outputs()
+            .filter_map(|output| self.output_workspaces.active_workspace(output))
+            .collect::<HashSet<_>>();
+        for workspace in self.workspaces.prune_empty(&protected) {
+            self.output_workspaces.forget_workspace(workspace);
+            self.viewport_animations.remove(&workspace);
+        }
         if self.session_lock.active {
             self.configure_lock_surfaces();
         }
diff --git a/crates/ferese-core/src/output.rs b/crates/ferese-core/src/output.rs
index ee0eb65..b7860ea 100644
--- a/crates/ferese-core/src/output.rs
+++ b/crates/ferese-core/src/output.rs
@@ -110,6 +110,37 @@ impl OutputWorkspaceMap {
         self.assignments.get(&workspace).copied()
     }
 
+    pub fn forget_workspace(&mut self, workspace: WorkspaceId) -> bool {
+        if self
+            .outputs
+            .values()
+            .any(|output| output.active == workspace)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+        if let Some(owner) = self.assignments.remove(&workspace)
+            && let Some(output) = self.outputs.get_mut(&owner)
+        {
+            output.workspaces.remove(&workspace);
+        }
+        self.revisions.remove(&workspace);
+        self.evacuations.retain(|_, record| {
+            record
+                .workspaces
+                .retain(|entry| entry.workspace != workspace);
+            if record.active == workspace {
+                if let Some(entry) = record.workspaces.first() {
+                    record.active = entry.workspace;
+                } else {
+                    return false;
+                }
+            }
+            true
+        });
+        debug_assert!(self.validate());
+        true
+    }
+
     pub fn connected_outputs(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = OutputId> + '_ {
         self.outputs.keys().copied()
     }
@@ -379,6 +410,27 @@ impl OutputWorkspaceMap {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    #[test]
+    fn forgetting_an_inactive_workspace_prevents_hotplug_resurrection() {
+        let mut outputs = super::OutputWorkspaceMap::default();
+        let display = super::OutputId(1);
+        let geometry = super::OutputGeometry::new(0, 0, 1920, 1080);
+        let first = super::WorkspaceId(1);
+        let second = super::WorkspaceId(2);
+        outputs.connect(display, geometry, first).unwrap();
+        assert!(!outputs.forget_workspace(first));
+        outputs.switch_workspace(display, second).unwrap();
+        assert!(outputs.forget_workspace(first));
+        assert_eq!(outputs.output_for_workspace(first), None);
+        outputs.disconnect(display).unwrap();
+        outputs
+            .connect(display, geometry, super::WorkspaceId(3))
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(outputs.active_workspace(display), Some(second));
+        assert_eq!(outputs.output_for_workspace(first), None);
+        assert!(outputs.validate());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn changing_output_geometry_preserves_workspace_ownership_and_focus() {
         let mut outputs = super::OutputWorkspaceMap::default();
diff --git a/crates/ferese-core/src/workspace.rs b/crates/ferese-core/src/workspace.rs
index 00dd455..d9968f2 100644
--- a/crates/ferese-core/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/ferese-core/src/workspace.rs
@@ -523,6 +523,38 @@ impl WorkspaceSet {
         self.workspaces.values()
     }
 
+    pub fn prune_empty(&mut self, protected: &HashSet<WorkspaceId>) -> Vec<WorkspaceId> {
+        let mut empty = self
+            .workspaces
+            .values()
+            .filter(|workspace| {
+                workspace.layout.window_ids().next().is_none() && workspace.floating.is_empty()
+            })
+            .map(|workspace| workspace.id)
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        empty.sort_by_key(|id| id.0);
+        let visible_empty = empty
+            .iter()
+            .any(|id| *id == self.active || protected.contains(id));
+        let spare = if visible_empty {
+            None
+        } else {
+            empty.first().copied()
+        };
+        let mut removed = Vec::new();
+        for id in empty {
+            if id == self.active || protected.contains(&id) || Some(id) == spare {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if let Some(workspace) = self.workspaces.remove(&id) {
+                self.names.remove(&workspace.name);
+                removed.push(id);
+            }
+        }
+        debug_assert!(self.validate().is_ok());
+        removed
+    }
+
     pub fn workspace_for_window(&self, window: WindowId) -> Option<WorkspaceId> {
         self.window_workspaces.get(&window).copied()
     }
@@ -1068,6 +1100,52 @@ fn finite_or_zero(value: f64) -> f64 {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    #[test]
+    fn pruning_keeps_windows_and_one_empty_workspace() {
+        let mut set = super::WorkspaceSet::default();
+        let first = set.active_id();
+        set.insert_window(super::WindowId(1), super::Axis::Horizontal, 0.5)
+            .unwrap();
+        let floating = set.ensure_numeric(2).unwrap();
+        set.insert_floating_window(
+            super::WindowId(2),
+            floating,
+            super::Rect::new(0., 0., 100., 100.),
+            false,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let spare = set.ensure_numeric(3).unwrap();
+        let excess = set.ensure_numeric(4).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            set.prune_empty(&std::collections::HashSet::new()),
+            vec![excess]
+        );
+        assert!(set.workspace(first).is_some());
+        assert!(set.workspace(floating).is_some());
+        assert!(set.workspace(spare).is_some());
+        set.activate(spare).unwrap();
+        set.remove_window(super::WindowId(1)).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            set.prune_empty(&std::collections::HashSet::new()),
+            vec![first]
+        );
+        assert!(set.validate().is_ok());
+        assert_ne!(set.ensure_numeric(1).unwrap(), first);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn pruning_never_removes_another_displays_active_workspace() {
+        let mut set = super::WorkspaceSet::default();
+        let first = set.active_id();
+        let second = set.ensure_numeric(2).unwrap();
+        let third = set.ensure_numeric(3).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            set.prune_empty(&std::collections::HashSet::from([first, second])),
+            vec![third]
+        );
+        assert!(set.workspace(second).is_some());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn live_policy_updates_existing_layouts_and_default_widths_not_custom_widths() {
         let mut workspaces = WorkspaceSet::default();
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 93e5eaa..f45372b 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -393,7 +393,10 @@ Settings → Notifications controls popups, Do Not Disturb, and the default time
 
 A single-output session starts with workspace 1. Numbered workspace shortcuts create
 workspaces on demand; switching forward past the last workspace also creates the
-next one. Additional displays receive their own workspace.
+next one when the current workspace contains windows. Empty workspaces are
+cleaned up automatically, keeping at most one empty workspace in addition to
+any empty workspace currently shown on another display. Additional displays
+receive their own workspace.
 
 Shell rounding is controlled in Settings → Appearance → Shell corner radius.
 Small controls cap the radius to fit their size. Window rounding remains under