diff --git a/src/dulcepan.h b/src/dulcepan.h
index 63fef98..fd67567 100644
--- a/src/dulcepan.h
+++ b/src/dulcepan.h
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ struct dp_state {
 
 	struct sfdo_basedir_ctx *basedir_ctx;
 
+	char *persistent_path;
+
 	struct wl_list outputs;
 	struct wl_list seats;
 
@@ -208,4 +210,7 @@ char *dp_strdup(const char *str);
 const char *dp_ext_from_path(const char *path);
 enum dp_file_format dp_ext_to_format(const char *ext);
 
+void dp_persistent_load(struct dp_state *state);
+void dp_persistent_save(struct dp_state *state);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 8a180c4..8a0fcf1 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ static void run(struct dp_state *state) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	dp_persistent_load(state);
+
 	wl_list_for_each (output, &state->outputs, link) {
 		dp_output_redraw(output);
 	}
@@ -126,6 +128,8 @@ static void run(struct dp_state *state) {
 		dp_save(state);
 	}
 
+	dp_persistent_save(state);
+
 	struct dp_seat *seat, *seat_tmp;
 	wl_list_for_each_safe (seat, seat_tmp, &state->seats, link) {
 		dp_seat_destroy(seat);
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index fc57b5c..f68c36b 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ src = files(
   'config.c',
   'main.c',
   'output.c',
+  'persistent.c',
   'save.c',
   'seat.c',
   'select.c',
diff --git a/src/persistent.c b/src/persistent.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e975522
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/persistent.c
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <sfdo-basedir.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include "dulcepan.h"
+
+#define STATE_SUBPATH "dulcepan"
+
+// State format:
+//
+// <output name>
+// <x> <y> <width> <height>
+
+void dp_persistent_load(struct dp_state *state) {
+	size_t dir_len;
+	const char *dir = sfdo_basedir_get_cache_home(state->basedir_ctx, &dir_len);
+	state->persistent_path = dp_zalloc(dir_len + sizeof(STATE_SUBPATH));
+	memcpy(state->persistent_path, dir, dir_len);
+	memcpy(state->persistent_path + dir_len, STATE_SUBPATH, sizeof(STATE_SUBPATH));
+
+	FILE *fp = fopen(state->persistent_path, "r");
+	if (fp == NULL) {
+		if (errno != ENOENT) {
+			dp_log_error("Failed to open %s: %s", state->persistent_path, strerror(errno));
+		}
+		return;
+	}
+
+	char name[32];
+	int x, y, width, height;
+	int n_read = 0;
+
+	fgets(name, sizeof(name), fp);
+	size_t name_len = strlen(name);
+	if (name[name_len - 1] == '\n') {
+		name[--name_len] = '\0';
+	}
+	n_read += fscanf(fp, "%d %d %d %d", &x, &y, &width, &height);
+
+	bool ok = ferror(fp) == 0 && n_read == 4;
+	fclose(fp);
+
+	if (!ok) {
+		dp_log_error("Persistent state: bad format");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	struct dp_output *selection_output = NULL;
+
+	struct dp_output *output;
+	wl_list_for_each (output, &state->outputs, link) {
+		if (strcmp(output->name, name) == 0) {
+			selection_output = output;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (selection_output == NULL) {
+		dp_log_error("Persistent state: failed to find cached output %s", name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (x < 0 || y < 0 || x + width > selection_output->transformed_width ||
+			y + height >= selection_output->transformed_height) {
+		dp_log_error("Persistent state: invalid selection geometry", name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	struct dp_selection *selection = &state->selection;
+	selection->output = selection_output;
+	selection->x = x;
+	selection->y = y;
+	selection->width = width;
+	selection->height = height;
+}
+
+void dp_persistent_save(struct dp_state *state) {
+	struct dp_selection *selection = &state->selection;
+	if (selection->output != NULL) {
+		FILE *fp = fopen(state->persistent_path, "w");
+		if (fp == NULL) {
+			dp_log_error("Failed to open %s: %s", state->persistent_path, strerror(errno));
+		} else {
+			fprintf(fp,
+					"%s\n"
+					"%d %d %d %d\n",
+					selection->output->name, selection->x, selection->y, selection->width,
+					selection->height);
+			fclose(fp);
+		}
+	}
+
+	free(state->persistent_path);
+}