diff --git a/src/rootwindow.cc b/src/rootwindow.cc
index 3fccc44a..04b39d87 100644
--- a/src/rootwindow.cc
+++ b/src/rootwindow.cc
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 namespace ob {
 
 OBRootWindow::OBRootWindow(int screen)
-  : _info(otk::OBDisplay::screenInfo(screen))
+  : OBWidget(OBWidget::Type_Root),
+    _info(otk::OBDisplay::screenInfo(screen))
 {
   updateDesktopNames();
 
diff --git a/src/rootwindow.hh b/src/rootwindow.hh
index c05bfd7b..180f239c 100644
--- a/src/rootwindow.hh
+++ b/src/rootwindow.hh
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "widget.hh"
 #include "otk/screeninfo.hh"
 #include "otk/eventhandler.hh"
 #include "otk/property.hh"
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ namespace ob {
   <p>
   OBRootWindow also manages client messages for the root window.
 */
-class OBRootWindow : public otk::OtkEventHandler {
+class OBRootWindow : public otk::OtkEventHandler, public OBWidget {
 private:
   //! Information about this screen
   const otk::ScreenInfo *_info;
diff --git a/src/widget.hh b/src/widget.hh
index 6b9ffe77..2af01e24 100644
--- a/src/widget.hh
+++ b/src/widget.hh
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ public:
     Type_StickyButton,
     Type_LeftGrip,
     Type_RightGrip,
-    Type_Client
+    Type_Client,
+    Type_Root
   };
 
 private: