diff --git a/src/Compositor.cpp b/src/Compositor.cpp
index fb67ecee..d7d2936e 100644
--- a/src/Compositor.cpp
+++ b/src/Compositor.cpp
@@ -2732,7 +2732,7 @@ void CCompositor::arrangeMonitors() {
 
         if (m->activeMonitorRule.offset != Vector2D{-INT32_MAX, -INT32_MAX}) {
             // explicit.
-            Debug::log(LOG, "arrangeMonitors: {} explicit {:j2}", m->szName, m->activeMonitorRule.offset);
+            Debug::log(LOG, "arrangeMonitors: {} explicit {:j}", m->szName, m->activeMonitorRule.offset);
 
             m->moveTo(m->activeMonitorRule.offset);
             arranged.push_back(m);
@@ -2767,33 +2767,37 @@ void CCompositor::arrangeMonitors() {
 
     // Iterates through all non-explicitly placed monitors.
     for (auto& m : toArrange) {
-        Debug::log(LOG, "arrangeMonitors: {} auto [{}, {:.2f}]", m->szName, maxXOffsetRight, 0.f);
         // Moves the monitor to their appropriate position on the x/y axis and
         // increments/decrements the corresponding max offset.
-        if (m->activeMonitorRule.autoDir == eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_UP) {
-            m->moveTo({0, maxYOffsetUp - m->vecSize.y});
-            maxYOffsetUp = m->vecPosition.y;
-        } else if (m->activeMonitorRule.autoDir == eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_DOWN) {
-            m->moveTo({0, maxYOffsetDown});
-            maxYOffsetDown += m->vecSize.y;
-        } else if (m->activeMonitorRule.autoDir == eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_LEFT) {
-            m->moveTo({maxXOffsetLeft - m->vecSize.x, 0});
-            maxXOffsetLeft = m->vecPosition.x;
-        } else if (m->activeMonitorRule.autoDir == eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_RIGHT) {
-            m->moveTo({maxXOffsetRight, 0});
-            maxXOffsetRight += m->vecSize.x;
-        } else {
-            Debug::log(WARN,
-                       "Invalid auto direction. Valid options are 'auto',"
-                       "'auto-up', 'auto-down', 'auto-left', and 'auto-right'.");
+        Vector2D newPosition = {0, 0};
+        switch (m->activeMonitorRule.autoDir) {
+            case eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_UP:
+                newPosition.y = maxYOffsetUp - m->vecSize.y;
+                maxYOffsetUp  = newPosition.y;
+                break;
+            case eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_DOWN:
+                newPosition.y = maxYOffsetDown;
+                maxYOffsetDown += m->vecSize.y;
+                break;
+            case eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_LEFT:
+                newPosition.x  = maxXOffsetLeft - m->vecSize.x;
+                maxXOffsetLeft = newPosition.x;
+                break;
+            case eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_RIGHT:
+                newPosition.x = maxXOffsetRight;
+                maxXOffsetRight += m->vecSize.x;
+                break;
+            default: UNREACHABLE();
         }
+        Debug::log(LOG, "arrangeMonitors: {} auto {:j}", m->szName, m->vecPosition);
+        m->moveTo(newPosition);
     }
 
     // reset maxXOffsetRight (reuse)
     // and set xwayland positions aka auto for all
     maxXOffsetRight = 0;
     for (auto& m : m_vMonitors) {
-        Debug::log(LOG, "arrangeMonitors: {} xwayland [{}, {:.2f}]", m->szName, maxXOffsetRight, 0.f);
+        Debug::log(LOG, "arrangeMonitors: {} xwayland [{}, {}]", m->szName, maxXOffsetRight, 0);
         m->vecXWaylandPosition = {maxXOffsetRight, 0};
         maxXOffsetRight += (*PXWLFORCESCALEZERO ? m->vecTransformedSize.x : m->vecSize.x);
 
diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
index 4b5bbbf7..587d8c82 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
@@ -966,7 +966,11 @@ SMonitorRule CConfigManager::getMonitorRuleFor(const CMonitor& PMONITOR) {
 
     Debug::log(WARN, "No rules configured. Using the default hardcoded one.");
 
-    return SMonitorRule{.name = "", .resolution = Vector2D(0, 0), .offset = Vector2D(-INT32_MAX, -INT32_MAX), .scale = -1}; // 0, 0 is preferred and -1, -1 is auto
+    return SMonitorRule{.autoDir    = eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_RIGHT,
+                        .name       = "",
+                        .resolution = Vector2D(0, 0),
+                        .offset     = Vector2D(-INT32_MAX, -INT32_MAX),
+                        .scale      = -1}; // 0, 0 is preferred and -1, -1 is auto
 }
 
 SWorkspaceRule CConfigManager::getWorkspaceRuleFor(PHLWORKSPACE pWorkspace) {
@@ -1655,7 +1659,12 @@ std::optional<std::string> CConfigManager::handleMonitor(const std::string& comm
             newrule.autoDir = eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_UP;
         else if (ARGS[2] == "auto-down")
             newrule.autoDir = eAutoDirs::DIR_AUTO_DOWN;
-
+        else {
+            Debug::log(WARN,
+                       "Invalid auto direction. Valid options are 'auto',"
+                       "'auto-up', 'auto-down', 'auto-left', and 'auto-right'.");
+            error += "invalid auto direction ";
+        }
     } else {
         if (!ARGS[2].contains("x")) {
             error += "invalid offset ";