diff --git a/src/libs/utils/theme/theme.cpp b/src/libs/utils/theme/theme.cpp
index e45662012e5..3cb43de469c 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/theme/theme.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/utils/theme/theme.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,18 @@ void setThemeApplicationPalette()
         QApplication::setPalette(m_creatorTheme->palette());
 }
 
+static void maybeForceMacOSLight(Theme *theme)
+{
+#ifdef Q_OS_MACOS
+    // Match the native UI theme and palette with the creator
+    // theme by forcing light aqua for light creator themes.
+    if (theme && !theme->flag(Theme::DarkUserInterface))
+        Internal::forceMacOSLightAquaApperance();
+#else
+    Q_UNUSED(theme)
+#endif
+}
+
 void setCreatorTheme(Theme *theme)
 {
     if (m_creatorTheme == theme)
@@ -74,13 +86,7 @@ void setCreatorTheme(Theme *theme)
     delete m_creatorTheme;
     m_creatorTheme = theme;
 
-#ifdef Q_OS_MACOS
-    // Match the native UI theme and palette with the creator
-    // theme by forcing light aqua for light creator themes.
-    if (theme && !theme->flag(Theme::DarkUserInterface))
-        Internal::forceMacOSLightAquaApperance();
-#endif
-
+    maybeForceMacOSLight(theme);
     setThemeApplicationPalette();
 }
 
@@ -270,6 +276,12 @@ static QPalette copyPalette(const QPalette &p)
     return res;
 }
 
+void Theme::setInitialPalette(Theme *initTheme)
+{
+    maybeForceMacOSLight(initTheme);
+    initialPalette();
+}
+
 QPalette Theme::initialPalette()
 {
     static QPalette palette = copyPalette(QApplication::palette());
diff --git a/src/libs/utils/theme/theme.h b/src/libs/utils/theme/theme.h
index a4fd112786d..3af43ed6f9e 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/theme/theme.h
+++ b/src/libs/utils/theme/theme.h
@@ -481,6 +481,8 @@ public:
     static bool systemUsesDarkMode();
     static QPalette initialPalette();
 
+    static void setInitialPalette(Theme *initTheme);
+
 protected:
     Theme(Theme *originTheme, QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ThemePrivate *d;
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.cpp
index 3043a7dd1e6..77875a7ac4d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.cpp
@@ -160,10 +160,11 @@ bool CorePlugin::initialize(const QStringList &arguments, QString *errorMessage)
         return false;
     }
     const CoreArguments args = parseArguments(arguments);
-    Theme::initialPalette(); // Initialize palette before setting it
     Theme *themeFromArg = ThemeEntry::createTheme(args.themeId);
-    setCreatorTheme(themeFromArg ? themeFromArg
-                                 : ThemeEntry::createTheme(ThemeEntry::themeSetting()));
+    Theme *theme = themeFromArg ? themeFromArg
+                                : ThemeEntry::createTheme(ThemeEntry::themeSetting());
+    Theme::setInitialPalette(theme); // Initialize palette before setting it
+    setCreatorTheme(theme);
     InfoBar::initialize(ICore::settings());
     new ActionManager(this);
     ActionManager::setPresentationModeEnabled(args.presentationMode);