diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index 0b19580c..8907e019 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ int sway_mouse_binding_cmp_qsort(const void *a, const void *b);
 int sway_mouse_binding_cmp_buttons(const void *a, const void *b);
 void free_sway_mouse_binding(struct sway_mouse_binding *smb);
 
-void load_swaybars(swayc_t *output);
+void load_swaybars();
 void terminate_swaybg(pid_t pid);
 
 /**
diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index 548b7d9f..3b8556ca 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -1526,14 +1526,7 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_reload(int argc, char **argv) {
 	}
 	if (!load_config(NULL)) return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "reload", "Error(s) reloading config.");
 
-	int i;
-	swayc_t *cont = NULL;
-	for (i = 0; i < root_container.children->length; ++i) {
-		cont = root_container.children->items[i];
-		if (cont->type == C_OUTPUT) {
-			load_swaybars(cont);
-		}
-	}
+	load_swaybars();
 
 	arrange_windows(&root_container, -1, -1);
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
diff --git a/sway/config.c b/sway/config.c
index c34a660e..16adaf0d 100644
--- a/sway/config.c
+++ b/sway/config.c
@@ -529,7 +529,20 @@ void terminate_swaybg(pid_t pid) {
 	}
 }
 
-void load_swaybars(swayc_t *output) {
+static bool active_output(const char *name) {
+	int i;
+	swayc_t *cont = NULL;
+	for (i = 0; i < root_container.children->length; ++i) {
+		cont = root_container.children->items[i];
+		if (cont->type == C_OUTPUT && strcasecmp(name, cont->name) == 0) {
+			return true;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false;
+}
+
+void load_swaybars() {
 	// Check for bars
 	list_t *bars = create_list();
 	struct bar_config *bar = NULL;
@@ -541,7 +554,7 @@ void load_swaybars(swayc_t *output) {
 			int j;
 			for (j = 0; j < bar->outputs->length; ++j) {
 				char *o = bar->outputs->items[j];
-				if (!strcmp(o, "*") || !strcasecmp(o, output->name)) {
+				if (!strcmp(o, "*") || active_output(o)) {
 					apply = true;
 					break;
 				}
@@ -559,7 +572,7 @@ void load_swaybars(swayc_t *output) {
 		if (bar->pid != 0) {
 			terminate_swaybar(bar->pid);
 		}
-		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Invoking swaybar for output %s and bar '%s'", output->name, bar->id);
+		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Invoking swaybar for bar id '%s'", bar->id);
 		invoke_swaybar(bar);
 	}
 
@@ -683,8 +696,8 @@ void apply_output_config(struct output_config *oc, swayc_t *output) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// load swaybars for output
-	load_swaybars(output);
+	// reload swaybars
+	load_swaybars();
 }
 
 char *do_var_replacement(char *str) {