diff --git a/src/desktop.c b/src/desktop.c
index 6164f9f..0200ac3 100644
--- a/src/desktop.c
+++ b/src/desktop.c
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@
 
 #include "gseal-gtk-compat.h"
 
+/* desktop icon offset hack for use with tiling wms
+ * ensures desktop icons don't end up underneath dwm status bar
+ */
+#include <theme.h>
+
 /* compatibility with LibFM < 1.0.2 */
 #if !FM_CHECK_VERSION(1, 0, 2)
 # define FM_FOLDER_MODEL_COL_INFO COL_FILE_INFO
@@ -1710,6 +1715,7 @@ static gboolean is_pos_occupied(FmDesktop* desktop, FmDesktopItem* item)
     return FALSE;
 }
 
+
 static void layout_items(FmDesktop* self)
 {
     FmDesktopItem* item;
@@ -1719,7 +1725,8 @@ static void layout_items(FmDesktop* self)
     int x, y, bottom;
     GtkTextDirection direction = gtk_widget_get_direction(GTK_WIDGET(self));
 
-    y = self->ymargin;
+    /* PATCH: vertical offset for first column of desktop icons */
+    y = self->ymargin + (FN_HEADER_SIZE * 1.5);
     bottom = self->working_area.height - self->ymargin;
 
     if(!model || !gtk_tree_model_get_iter_first(model, &it))
@@ -1747,7 +1754,8 @@ _next_position:
                 if (item->area.y + item->area.height > bottom && y > self->ymargin)
                 {
                     x += self->cell_w;
-                    y = self->ymargin;
+                    /* PATCH: vertical offset for all subsequent columns of desktop icons */
+                    y = self->ymargin + (FN_HEADER_SIZE * 1.5);
                     goto _next_position;
                 }
                 /* prepare position for next item */