diff --git a/src/multisplitter/Anchor.cpp b/src/multisplitter/Anchor.cpp
index 2835e1c3..4cafe580 100644
--- a/src/multisplitter/Anchor.cpp
+++ b/src/multisplitter/Anchor.cpp
@@ -269,6 +269,19 @@ bool Anchor::hasItems(Anchor::Side side) const
     }
 }
 
+bool Anchor::onlyHasPlaceholderItems(Anchor::Side side) const
+{
+    auto &items = side == Side1 ? m_side1Items
+                                : m_side2Items;
+
+    for (Item *item : items) {
+        if (!item->isPlaceholder())
+            return false;
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
 bool Anchor::hasNonPlaceholderItems(Anchor::Side side) const
 {
     auto &items = side == Side1 ? m_side1Items
diff --git a/src/multisplitter/Anchor_p.h b/src/multisplitter/Anchor_p.h
index 02266b25..e6acabeb 100644
--- a/src/multisplitter/Anchor_p.h
+++ b/src/multisplitter/Anchor_p.h
@@ -186,7 +186,8 @@ public:
     bool isEmpty() const { return !hasItems(Side1) && !hasItems(Side2); }
     bool hasItems(Side) const;
     bool hasNonPlaceholderItems(Side) const;
-    bool shouldFollow() const{ return !isStatic() && (!hasNonPlaceholderItems(Side1) || !hasNonPlaceholderItems(Side2)) && !isFollowing(); }
+    bool onlyHasPlaceholderItems(Anchor::Side side) const;
+    bool shouldFollow() const { return !isStatic() && (onlyHasPlaceholderItems(Side1) || onlyHasPlaceholderItems(Side2)) && !isFollowing(); }
 
     bool containsItem(const Item *w, Side side) const;
     bool isStaticOrFollowsStatic() const;