diff --git a/src/renderer/ColorManager.test.ts b/src/renderer/ColorManager.test.ts
index e00f6b6d..22407604 100644
--- a/src/renderer/ColorManager.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/ColorManager.test.ts
@@ -269,6 +269,12 @@ describe('ColorManager', () => {
   });
 
   describe('setTheme', () => {
+    it('should not throw when not setting all colors', () => {
+      assert.doesNotThrow(() => {
+        cm.setTheme({});
+      });
+    });
+
     it('should set a partial set of colors, using the default if not present', () => {
       assert.equal(cm.colors.background, '#000000');
       assert.equal(cm.colors.foreground, '#ffffff');
diff --git a/src/renderer/ColorManager.ts b/src/renderer/ColorManager.ts
index 80daf31f..6c0d2945 100644
--- a/src/renderer/ColorManager.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/ColorManager.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,9 @@ export class ColorManager implements IColorManager {
   }
 
   private _validateColor(color: string, fallback: string): string {
+    if (!color) {
+      return fallback;
+    }
     if (color.length === 7 && color.charAt(0) === '#') {
       return color;
     }