diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index ee60191..a5abbcc 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ static const Rule rules[] = {
 
 /* layout(s) */
 static const float mfact     = 0.55; /* factor of master area size [0.05..0.95] */
-static const int nmaster     = 1;    /* number of clients in master area */
 
 static const Layout layouts[] = {
 	/* symbol     arrange function */
diff --git a/dwm.c b/dwm.c
index 397e384..73b4e26 100644
--- a/dwm.c
+++ b/dwm.c
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ createmon(void)
 	m = ecalloc(1, sizeof(Monitor));
 	m->tagset[0] = m->tagset[1] = 1;
 	m->mfact = mfact;
-	m->nmaster = nmaster;
+	m->nmaster = settings_get_default_clients_in_master();
 	m->showbar = showbar;
 	m->topbar = topbar;
 	m->lt[0] = &layouts[0];
@@ -1630,7 +1630,7 @@ void
 resetnmaster(const Arg *arg)
 {
 	const int max_clients_in_master = settings_get_max_clients_in_master();
-	const int new_clients_in_master = arg->i == 0 ? 0 : nmaster;
+	const int new_clients_in_master = arg->i == 0 ? 0 : settings_get_default_clients_in_master();
 
 	selmon->nmaster = selmon->pertag->nmasters[selmon->pertag->curtag] =
 		max_clients_in_master == 0
diff --git a/settings.c b/settings.c
index 4308504..d7ceb5b 100644
--- a/settings.c
+++ b/settings.c
@@ -1,10 +1,21 @@
 #include "settings.h"
 
+static int default_clients_in_master = 1;
 static bool focus_on_wheel = true;
 static int max_clients_in_master = 0; // 0 for no maximum
 static bool respect_resize_hints_in_floating_layout = false;
 static unsigned int snap_distance = 32;
 
+int settings_get_default_clients_in_master()
+{
+	return default_clients_in_master >= 1 ? default_clients_in_master : 1;
+}
+
+void settings_set_default_clients_in_master(const int new_default_clients_in_master)
+{
+	default_clients_in_master = new_default_clients_in_master;
+}
+
 bool settings_get_focus_on_wheel()
 {
 	return focus_on_wheel;
diff --git a/settings.h b/settings.h
index 22f8457..85a2fb6 100644
--- a/settings.h
+++ b/settings.h
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
+int  settings_get_default_clients_in_master();
+void settings_set_default_clients_in_master(int new_default_clients_in_master);
+
 bool settings_get_focus_on_wheel();
 void settings_set_focus_on_wheel(bool new_focus_on_wheel);