diff --git a/lib/awful/rules.lua b/lib/awful/rules.lua
index 8f9870715..31ca6d044 100644
--- a/lib/awful/rules.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/rules.lua
@@ -631,6 +631,7 @@ function rules.execute(c, props, callbacks)
     if props.titlebars_enabled and (type(props.titlebars_enabled) ~= "function"
             or props.titlebars_enabled(c,props)) then
         c:emit_signal("request::titlebars", "rules", {properties=props})
+        c._request_titlebars_called = true
     end
 
     -- Border width will also cause geometry related properties to fail
diff --git a/lib/awful/titlebar.lua b/lib/awful/titlebar.lua
index 969b4076b..d6230f9b3 100644
--- a/lib/awful/titlebar.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/titlebar.lua
@@ -453,6 +453,32 @@ local function get_titlebar_function(c, position)
     end
 end
 
+--- Call `request::titlebars` to allow themes or rc.lua to create them even
+-- when `titlebars_enabled` is not set in the rules.
+-- @tparam client c The client.
+-- @tparam[opt=false] boolean hide_all Hide all titlebars except `keep`
+-- @tparam string keep Keep the titlebar at this position
+-- @treturn boolean If the titlebars were loaded
+local function load_titlebars(c, hide_all, keep)
+    if c._request_titlebars_called then return false end
+
+    c:emit_signal("request::titlebars", "awful.titlebar", {})
+
+    if hide_all then
+        -- Don't bother checking if it has been created, `.hide` don't works
+        -- anyway.
+        for _, tb in ipairs {"top", "bottom", "left", "right"} do
+            if tb ~= keep then
+                titlebar.hide(c, tb)
+            end
+        end
+    end
+
+    c._request_titlebars_called = true
+
+    return true
+end
+
 --- Get a client's titlebar.
 -- @tparam client c The client for which a titlebar is wanted.
 -- @tparam[opt={}] table args A table with extra arguments for the titlebar.
@@ -530,6 +556,7 @@ end
 --   "right", "top", "bottom". Default is "top".
 function titlebar.show(c, position)
     position = position or "top"
+    if load_titlebars(c, true, position) then return end
     local bars = all_titlebars[c]
     local data = bars and bars[position]
     local args = data and data.args
@@ -551,6 +578,7 @@ end
 --   "right", "top", "bottom". Default is "top".
 function titlebar.toggle(c, position)
     position = position or "top"
+    if load_titlebars(c, true, position) then return end
     local _, size = get_titlebar_function(c, position)(c)
     if size == 0 then
         titlebar.show(c, position)
diff --git a/tests/test-titlebar.lua b/tests/test-titlebar.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..38dd64135
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test-titlebar.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+local runner = require("_runner")
+local titlebar = require("awful.titlebar")
+local rules = require("awful.rules")
+local spawn = require("awful.spawn")
+
+local tiny_client = {"lua", "-e", [[
+local Gtk, class = require('lgi').require('Gtk'), 'client'
+Gtk.init()
+window = Gtk.Window {default_width=100, default_height=100, title='title'}
+window:set_wmclass(class, class)
+local app = Gtk.Application {}
+function app:on_activate()
+    window.application = self
+    window:show_all()
+end
+app:run {''}
+]]}
+
+-- Use the test client props
+rules.rules = {}
+
+-- Too bad there's no way to disconnect the rc.lua request::titlebars function
+
+local steps = {
+    function()
+        assert(#client.get() == 0)
+        spawn(tiny_client)
+        return true
+    end,
+    function()
+        if #client.get() ~= 1 then return end
+
+        local c = client.get()[1]
+
+        -- The rules don't set any borders nor enable the titlebar
+        assert(not c._request_titlebars_called)
+        assert(c.width == 100 and c.height == 100)
+
+        -- Should create the top titlebar
+        titlebar.toggle(c, "top")
+
+        assert(c._request_titlebars_called)
+
+        local h = c.height
+        assert(h > 100)
+
+        -- Should do nothing, there is no titlebar at the bottom by default
+        titlebar.toggle(c, "bottom")
+        assert(h == c.height)
+
+        -- Should hide the titlebar
+        titlebar.toggle(c, "top")
+        assert(c.height == 100)
+
+        c:kill()
+
+        return true
+    end,
+    function()
+        if #client.get() ~= 0 then return end
+
+        spawn(tiny_client, {titlebars_enabled=true})
+
+        return true
+    end,
+    function()
+        if #client.get() ~= 1 then return end
+
+        local c = client.get()[1]
+
+        local h = c.height
+        assert(c.width == 100 and h > 100)
+        assert(c._request_titlebars_called)
+
+        titlebar.hide(c, "top")
+
+        assert(c.width == 100 and c.height == 100)
+
+        titlebar.hide(c, "top")
+
+        assert(c.width == 100 and c.height == 100)
+        titlebar.show(c, "top")
+
+        assert(c.width == 100 and c.height == h)
+
+        c:kill()
+
+        return true
+    end,
+}
+
+runner.run_steps(steps)
+
+-- vim: filetype=lua:expandtab:shiftwidth=4:tabstop=8:softtabstop=4:textwidth=80