diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
index 53f415d405..fec9fa2bdb 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,23 @@ Outputs VirtualBackend::outputs() const
     return m_outputs;
 }
 
+VirtualOutput *VirtualBackend::createOutput(const QPoint &position, const QSize &size, qreal scale)
+{
+    VirtualOutput *output = new VirtualOutput(this);
+    output->init(position, size, scale);
+    m_outputs.append(output);
+    Q_EMIT outputAdded(output);
+    output->updateEnabled(true);
+    return output;
+}
+
+Output *VirtualBackend::addOutput(const QSize &size, qreal scale)
+{
+    VirtualOutput *output = createOutput(QPoint(), size * scale, scale);
+    Q_EMIT outputsQueried();
+    return output;
+}
+
 void VirtualBackend::setVirtualOutputs(const QVector<QRect> &geometries, QVector<int> scales)
 {
     Q_ASSERT(scales.size() == 0 || scales.size() == geometries.size());
@@ -73,14 +90,7 @@ void VirtualBackend::setVirtualOutputs(const QVector<QRect> &geometries, QVector
     const QVector<VirtualOutput *> removed = m_outputs;
 
     for (int i = 0; i < geometries.size(); i++) {
-        VirtualOutput *vo = new VirtualOutput(this);
-        vo->init(geometries[i].topLeft(), geometries[i].size());
-        if (scales.size()) {
-            vo->updateScale(scales.at(i));
-        }
-        m_outputs.append(vo);
-        Q_EMIT outputAdded(vo);
-        vo->updateEnabled(true);
+        createOutput(geometries[i].topLeft(), geometries[i].size(), scales.value(i, 1.0));
     }
 
     for (VirtualOutput *output : removed) {
diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
index 3d1cd0268e..24c2472a71 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr<QPainterBackend> createQPainterBackend() override;
     std::unique_ptr<OpenGLBackend> createOpenGLBackend() override;
 
+    Output *addOutput(const QSize &size, qreal scale);
     Q_INVOKABLE void setVirtualOutputs(const QVector<QRect> &geometries, QVector<int> scales = QVector<int>());
 
     Outputs outputs() const override;
@@ -54,6 +55,8 @@ Q_SIGNALS:
     void virtualOutputsSet(bool countChanged);
 
 private:
+    VirtualOutput *createOutput(const QPoint &position, const QSize &size, qreal scale);
+
     QVector<VirtualOutput *> m_outputs;
     std::unique_ptr<QTemporaryDir> m_screenshotDir;
 };
diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_output.cpp b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_output.cpp
index e2f617b648..401e0108f9 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_output.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_output.cpp
@@ -44,32 +44,20 @@ SoftwareVsyncMonitor *VirtualOutput::vsyncMonitor() const
     return m_vsyncMonitor.get();
 }
 
-void VirtualOutput::init(const QPoint &logicalPosition, const QSize &pixelSize)
+void VirtualOutput::init(const QPoint &logicalPosition, const QSize &pixelSize, qreal scale)
 {
     const int refreshRate = 60000; // TODO: Make the refresh rate configurable.
     m_renderLoop->setRefreshRate(refreshRate);
     m_vsyncMonitor->setRefreshRate(refreshRate);
 
-    setGeometry(QRect(logicalPosition, pixelSize));
-}
+    auto mode = std::make_shared<OutputMode>(pixelSize, m_vsyncMonitor->refreshRate());
 
-void VirtualOutput::setGeometry(const QRect &geo)
-{
-    auto mode = std::make_shared<OutputMode>(geo.size(), m_vsyncMonitor->refreshRate());
-
-    State next = m_state;
-    next.modes = {mode};
-    next.currentMode = mode;
-    next.position = geo.topLeft();
-
-    setState(next);
-}
-
-void VirtualOutput::updateScale(qreal scale)
-{
-    State next = m_state;
-    next.scale = scale;
-    setState(next);
+    setState(State{
+        .position = logicalPosition,
+        .scale = scale,
+        .modes = {mode},
+        .currentMode = mode,
+    });
 }
 
 void VirtualOutput::updateEnabled(bool enabled)
diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_output.h b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_output.h
index 9bd4132f28..4531f86a91 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_output.h
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_output.h
@@ -30,9 +30,7 @@ public:
     RenderLoop *renderLoop() const override;
     SoftwareVsyncMonitor *vsyncMonitor() const;
 
-    void init(const QPoint &logicalPosition, const QSize &pixelSize);
-    void setGeometry(const QRect &geo);
-    void updateScale(qreal scale);
+    void init(const QPoint &logicalPosition, const QSize &pixelSize, qreal scale);
     void updateEnabled(bool enabled);
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/main_wayland.cpp b/src/main_wayland.cpp
index c97b7a849f..1574a77780 100644
--- a/src/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/src/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -553,10 +553,15 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         }
         a.setOutputBackend(std::make_unique<KWin::DrmBackend>(a.session()));
         break;
-    case BackendType::Virtual:
+    case BackendType::Virtual: {
+        auto outputBackend = std::make_unique<KWin::VirtualBackend>();
+        for (int i = 0; i < outputCount; ++i) {
+            outputBackend->addOutput(initialWindowSize, outputScale);
+        }
         a.setSession(KWin::Session::create(KWin::Session::Type::Noop));
-        a.setOutputBackend(std::make_unique<KWin::VirtualBackend>());
+        a.setOutputBackend(std::move(outputBackend));
         break;
+    }
     case BackendType::X11: {
         QString display = parser.value(x11DisplayOption);
         if (display.isEmpty()) {