diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 18ec7d7d..d8542da9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Changed
+- When the `-r` flag is provided, and RandR reports zero connected active screens, Polybar will not restart. This fixes Polybar dying on some laptops when the lid is closed. [`#3078`](https://github.com/polybar/polybar/pull/3078).
+
 ## [3.7.1] - 2023-11-27
 ### Build
 - Fixed missing header when using `libc++` in clang 15 and below
diff --git a/include/components/screen.hpp b/include/components/screen.hpp
index 95e41e08..3dd67333 100644
--- a/include/components/screen.hpp
+++ b/include/components/screen.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <utility>
+
 #include "common.hpp"
 #include "components/types.hpp"
 #include "events/signal_emitter.hpp"
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ class screen : public xpp::event::sink<evt::map_notify, evt::randr_screen_change
    */
   uint32_t m_root_mask{0};
 
-  bool have_monitors_changed() const;
+  std::pair<bool, int> have_monitors_changed() const;
 };
 
 POLYBAR_NS_END
diff --git a/src/components/screen.cpp b/src/components/screen.cpp
index ac39f6db..c2699d60 100644
--- a/src/components/screen.cpp
+++ b/src/components/screen.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <csignal>
 #include <thread>
+#include <utility>
 
 #include "components/config.hpp"
 #include "components/logger.hpp"
@@ -101,13 +102,16 @@ void screen::handle(const evt::randr_screen_change_notify& evt) {
 
   m_connection.reset_screen();
   auto screen = m_connection.screen();
-  auto changed = false;
 
-  // We need to reload if the screen size changed as well
+  auto [changed, num_monitors] = have_monitors_changed();
+  if (num_monitors == 0) {
+    m_log.notice("randr_screen_change_notify got 0 connected screens, ignoring event");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // We need to reload if the screen size changed as well, not just if screens were added/removed.
   if (screen->width_in_pixels != m_size.w || screen->height_in_pixels != m_size.h) {
     changed = true;
-  } else {
-    changed = have_monitors_changed();
   }
 
   if (changed) {
@@ -120,13 +124,14 @@ void screen::handle(const evt::randr_screen_change_notify& evt) {
 /**
  * Checks if the stored monitor list is different from a newly fetched one
  *
- * Fetches the monitor list and compares it with the one stored
+ * Fetches the monitor list and compares it with the one stored. Returns
+ * true if the list of monitors has changed. Also returns the number of monitors.
  */
-bool screen::have_monitors_changed() const {
+std::pair<bool, int> screen::have_monitors_changed() const {
   auto monitors = randr_util::get_monitors(m_connection, true, false);
 
   if (monitors.size() != m_monitors.size()) {
-    return true;
+    return std::make_pair(true, monitors.size());
   }
 
   for (auto m : m_monitors) {
@@ -139,11 +144,11 @@ bool screen::have_monitors_changed() const {
      * the same size
      */
     if (it == monitors.end()) {
-      return true;
+      return std::make_pair(true, monitors.size());
     }
   }
 
-  return false;
+  return std::make_pair(false, monitors.size());
 }
 
 POLYBAR_NS_END