diff --git a/crates/settings/src/lib.rs b/crates/settings/src/lib.rs
index 4922936d..1ca73d86 100644
--- a/crates/settings/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/settings/src/lib.rs
@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn missing_appearance_mode_falls_back_to_system() {
+    fn missing_appearance_mode_falls_back_to_dark() {
         let settings = json_with("").unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(settings.appearance_mode, AppearanceMode::System);
+        assert_eq!(settings.appearance_mode, AppearanceMode::Dark);
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/theme/src/appearance.rs b/crates/theme/src/appearance.rs
index 936751b6..c488050d 100644
--- a/crates/theme/src/appearance.rs
+++ b/crates/theme/src/appearance.rs
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ use crate::{Theme, ThemeMode};
 /// it wherever their settings live; this crate never touches disk.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum AppearanceMode {
-    /// Follow the OS. The default — matches every other native app on the
-    /// machine, including when the OS is set to switch at sunset.
-    #[default]
+    /// Follow the OS — matches every other native app on the machine,
+    /// including when the OS is set to switch at sunset.
     System,
     Light,
+    /// Paint dark regardless of the OS.
+    #[default]
     Dark,
 }
 
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ pub fn init(mode: AppearanceMode, cx: &mut App) {
     Theme::change(resolve(mode, system), None, cx);
 }
 
-/// The mode currently in effect (defaults to `System` before [`init`]).
+/// The mode currently in effect (defaults to `Dark` before [`init`]).
 pub fn mode(cx: &App) -> AppearanceMode {
     cx.try_global::<AppearanceState>()
         .map(|state| state.mode)
diff --git a/crates/theme/src/lib.rs b/crates/theme/src/lib.rs
index 0e636e06..c824d068 100644
--- a/crates/theme/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/theme/src/lib.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ pub const TABBAR_HEIGHT: Pixels = px(36.0);
 pub const SIDEBAR_WIDTH: Pixels = px(240.);
 
 pub fn init(cx: &mut App) {
-    appearance::init(AppearanceMode::System, cx);
+    appearance::init(AppearanceMode::default(), cx);
     Theme::sync_scrollbar_appearance(cx);
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/theme/src/theme.rs b/crates/theme/src/theme.rs
index 37982199..1a967554 100644
--- a/crates/theme/src/theme.rs
+++ b/crates/theme/src/theme.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Default, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Eq, Hash, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub enum ThemeMode {
     #[default]
-    Light,
     Dark,
+    Light,
 }
 
 impl ThemeMode {