diff --git a/external.sh b/external.sh
index b4a4016..ac843da 100755
--- a/external.sh
+++ b/external.sh
@@ -6,15 +6,22 @@ instance=$3
 consequences=$4
 
 title=$(xtitle "$wid")
+role="$(xprop -id "$wid" WM_WINDOW_ROLE | awk -F '"' '{print $2}')"
 
-# notify-send "$title" "$1 | $2 | $3 | $4"
+if [ $class = "Thunderbird" ] && [ $role = "messageWindow" ] || [ $role = "Msgcompose" ] ; then
+	echo "state=floating"
+	echo "rectangle=1100x868+250+16"
+	exit
+fi
+
+# notify-send "$title" "$1 | $2 | $3 | $4 | $role"
 
 #place floating windows
 #adapted from https://github.com/baskerville/bspwm/issues/263
 floats=$(bspc query -N -n .floating -d .focused | wc -l)
 xdotool windowmove --sync $wid $(( 50 + 50 * floats )) y
 
-case "$title" in
+case "$role" in
 	WM_FORCE_FLOATING)
 		echo "state=floating"
 		;;