diff --git a/data/rc3 b/data/rc3
index a7a7b148..9acb3bb5 100644
--- a/data/rc3
+++ b/data/rc3
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 <theme>
   <theme>operation</theme>
+  <titlelayout>NLIMC</titlelayout>
 </theme>
 
 <desktops>
diff --git a/openbox/config.c b/openbox/config.c
index 5089a335..d9c9789e 100644
--- a/openbox/config.c
+++ b/openbox/config.c
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ gboolean config_focus_popup;
 
 char *config_theme;
 
+gchar *config_title_layout;
+
 int     config_desktops_num;
 GSList *config_desktops_names;
 
@@ -52,6 +54,10 @@ static void parse_theme(xmlDocPtr doc, xmlNodePtr node, void *d)
         g_free(config_theme);
         config_theme = parse_string(doc, n);
     }
+    if ((n = parse_find_node("titlelayout", node))) {
+        g_free(config_title_layout);
+        config_title_layout = parse_string(doc, n);
+    }
 }
 
 static void parse_desktops(xmlDocPtr doc, xmlNodePtr node, void *d)
@@ -164,6 +170,8 @@ void config_startup()
 
     config_theme = NULL;
 
+    config_title_layout = g_strdup("NLIMC");
+
     parse_register("theme", parse_theme, NULL);
 
     config_desktops_num = 4;
diff --git a/openbox/config.h b/openbox/config.h
index 79f8432c..0c317dac 100644
--- a/openbox/config.h
+++ b/openbox/config.h
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ extern guint config_dock_hide_timeout;
 /* The name of the theme */
 char *config_theme;
 
+/* Titlebar button layout */
+gchar *config_title_layout;
+
 /*! The number of desktops */
 extern int config_desktops_num;
 /*! Names for the desktops */
diff --git a/openbox/frame.c b/openbox/frame.c
index 05ac3c71..a66bef93 100644
--- a/openbox/frame.c
+++ b/openbox/frame.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "client.h"
 #include "openbox.h"
 #include "extensions.h"
+#include "config.h"
 #include "framerender.h"
 #include "render/theme.h"
 
@@ -429,7 +430,7 @@ static void layout_title(ObFrame *self)
 
     /* figure out whats being shown, and the width of the label */
     self->label_width = self->width - (ob_rr_theme->bevel + 1) * 2;
-    for (lc = ob_rr_theme->title_layout; *lc != '\0'; ++lc) {
+    for (lc = config_title_layout; *lc != '\0'; ++lc) {
 	switch (*lc) {
 	case 'N':
             if (n) { *lc = ' '; break; } /* rm duplicates */
@@ -487,7 +488,7 @@ static void layout_title(ObFrame *self)
     if (!c) XUnmapWindow(ob_display, self->close);
 
     x = ob_rr_theme->bevel + 1;
-    for (lc = ob_rr_theme->title_layout; *lc != '\0'; ++lc) {
+    for (lc = config_title_layout; *lc != '\0'; ++lc) {
 	switch (*lc) {
 	case 'N':
 	    if (!n) break;
diff --git a/render/theme.c b/render/theme.c
index b9172b69..cfbc5f9c 100644
--- a/render/theme.c
+++ b/render/theme.c
@@ -133,11 +133,6 @@ RrTheme* RrThemeNew(const RrInstance *inst, gchar *name)
             mjust = RR_JUSTIFY_CENTER;
     }
 
-    /* load the title layout */
-    if (!read_string(db, "window.title.layout", &font_str))
-        font_str = "NLIMC";
-    theme->title_layout = g_strdup(font_str);
-
     /* load direct dimensions */
     if (!read_int(db, "menuOverlap", &theme->menu_overlap) ||
 	theme->menu_overlap < 0 || theme->menu_overlap > 20)
@@ -732,8 +727,6 @@ void RrThemeFree(RrTheme *theme)
         RrFontClose(theme->mtitlefont);
         RrFontClose(theme->mfont);
 
-        g_free(theme->title_layout);
-
         RrAppearanceFree(theme->a_disabled_focused_max);
         RrAppearanceFree(theme->a_disabled_unfocused_max);
         RrAppearanceFree(theme->a_hover_focused_max);
diff --git a/render/theme.h b/render/theme.h
index f7c0dc67..5abe35ea 100644
--- a/render/theme.h
+++ b/render/theme.h
@@ -49,9 +49,6 @@ struct _RrTheme {
     gint mfont_height;
     RrFont *mfont;
 
-    /* style settings - title layout */
-    gchar *title_layout;
-
     /* style settings - masks */
     RrPixmapMask *max_set_mask;
     RrPixmapMask *max_unset_mask;