diff --git a/src/layout/mod.rs b/src/layout/mod.rs
index 60c0f1fe..084c0236 100644
--- a/src/layout/mod.rs
+++ b/src/layout/mod.rs
@@ -3414,19 +3414,7 @@ impl<W: LayoutElement> Layout<W> {
             return false;
         }
 
-        if current.active_workspace_idx == current.workspaces.len() - 1 {
-            // Insert a new empty workspace.
-            current.add_workspace_bottom();
-        }
-        if current.options.layout.empty_workspace_above_first && current.active_workspace_idx == 0 {
-            current.add_workspace_top();
-        }
-
-        let mut ws = current.workspaces.remove(current.active_workspace_idx);
-        current.active_workspace_idx = current.active_workspace_idx.saturating_sub(1);
-        current.workspace_switch = None;
-        current.clean_up_workspaces();
-
+        let mut ws = current.remove_workspace_by_idx(current.active_workspace_idx);
         ws.set_output(Some(output.clone()));
         ws.original_output = OutputId::new(output);
 
@@ -3500,23 +3488,7 @@ impl<W: LayoutElement> Layout<W> {
 
         let current_active_ws_idx = current.active_workspace_idx;
 
-        if old_idx == current.workspaces.len() - 1 {
-            // Insert a new empty workspace.
-            current.add_workspace_bottom();
-        }
-
-        let mut ws = current.workspaces.remove(old_idx);
-
-        if current.options.layout.empty_workspace_above_first && old_idx == 0 {
-            current.add_workspace_top();
-        }
-
-        if old_idx < current.active_workspace_idx {
-            current.active_workspace_idx -= 1;
-        }
-        current.workspace_switch = None;
-        current.clean_up_workspaces();
-
+        let mut ws = current.remove_workspace_by_idx(old_idx);
         ws.set_output(Some(new_output.clone()));
         ws.original_output = OutputId::new(&new_output);
 
diff --git a/src/layout/monitor.rs b/src/layout/monitor.rs
index 600907cc..3c258d49 100644
--- a/src/layout/monitor.rs
+++ b/src/layout/monitor.rs
@@ -604,6 +604,31 @@ impl<W: LayoutElement> Monitor<W> {
         true
     }
 
+    pub fn remove_workspace_by_idx(&mut self, mut idx: usize) -> Workspace<W> {
+        if idx == self.workspaces.len() - 1 {
+            self.add_workspace_bottom();
+        }
+        if self.options.layout.empty_workspace_above_first && idx == 0 {
+            self.add_workspace_top();
+            idx += 1;
+        }
+
+        let mut ws = self.workspaces.remove(idx);
+        ws.set_output(None);
+
+        // For monitor current workspace removal, we focus previous rather than next (<= rather
+        // than <). This is different from columns and tiles, but it lets move-workspace-to-monitor
+        // back and forth to preserve position.
+        if idx <= self.active_workspace_idx && self.active_workspace_idx > 0 {
+            self.active_workspace_idx -= 1;
+        }
+
+        self.workspace_switch = None;
+        self.clean_up_workspaces();
+
+        ws
+    }
+
     pub fn move_down_or_to_workspace_down(&mut self) {
         if !self.active_workspace().move_down() {
             self.move_to_workspace_down(true);