diff --git a/cursetree/node.c b/cursetree/node.c
index f7d786a..4251afd 100644
--- a/cursetree/node.c
+++ b/cursetree/node.c
@@ -13,14 +13,21 @@ static inline struct ct_node *__alloc_node(void) {
 }
 
 /* Returns NULL if memory allocation failed.
+ * TODO: should dims be given as a parameter, or lazily computed in ct_update?
  */
 struct ct_node *new_node(struct ct_dims *const dims,
                          struct ct_bounds *const bounds,
                          struct ct_node *const parent) {
   struct ct_node *node = __alloc_node();
-  if (node == NULL) {
+  if (node != NULL) {
     *node = (struct ct_node){
-        .surface = new_surface(dims, bounds),
+        /* copy the parent's dimensions for now and request
+         * cursetree resize this node appropriately afterwards
+         * WARNING: new_node doesn't set the NFLAG_RESIZE request flag
+         * WARNING: that should be done by a function calling new_node
+         */
+        .surface = new_surface(parent->surface->dims, bounds),
+        .flags = NFLAG_EMPTY,
 
         .parent = parent,
         .child = (struct ct_node **)malloc(NODE_INIT_CHILDREN *
@@ -28,7 +35,6 @@ struct ct_node *new_node(struct ct_dims *const dims,
         .csize = NODE_INIT_CHILDREN,
         .cindex = 0,
         .axis = AXIS_X,
-        .ratio = 0,
     };
   }
 
@@ -151,6 +157,8 @@ int insert_child_node(struct ct_node *const parent, struct ct_node *const child,
   // do insertion
   parent->child[i] = child;
   parent->cindex++;
+  // request cursetree recompute dimensions recursively from parent
+  parent->flags |= NFLAG_RESIZE;
   return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
@@ -191,6 +199,8 @@ struct ct_node *remove_child_node(struct ct_node *const parent,
   }
   parent->cindex--;
   __set_cbounds(parent, child, false);
+  // request cursetree recompute dimensions recursively from parent
+  parent->flags |= NFLAG_RESIZE;
   return child;
 }
 
diff --git a/cursetree/node.h b/cursetree/node.h
index 9f713e7..b9917fc 100644
--- a/cursetree/node.h
+++ b/cursetree/node.h
@@ -13,11 +13,15 @@ typedef struct _win_st WINDOW;
 #define NODE_CHILDREN_GROWTH 1.5
 #define CINDEX_MAX UCHAR_MAX
 
+#define NFLAG_EMPTY     (0)
+#define NFLAG_RESIZE (1<<0)
+
 /* Child Index */
 typedef unsigned char cindex;
 
 struct ct_node {
   struct ct_surface *surface;
+  unsigned char flags;
 
   struct ct_node *parent;
   enum ct_axis axis;
@@ -30,8 +34,6 @@ struct ct_node {
     int wmin_rel;
     int hmin_rel;
   } cbounds;
-
-  float ratio;
 };
 
 /* === External Interface === */