diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/appTheme.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/appTheme.ts
index 5842dea23a..f25a624cce 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/lib/appTheme.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/appTheme.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export type AppThemeAppearance = "light" | "dark";
 
 export function normalizeAppThemeMode(value: string | null): AppThemeMode {
   if (value === "dark" || value === "light" || value === "system") return value;
-  return "dark";
+  return "light";
 }
 
 export function resolveAppThemeAppearance(mode: AppThemeMode, systemPrefersDark: boolean): AppThemeAppearance {
diff --git a/packages/app-tests/appTheme.test.ts b/packages/app-tests/appTheme.test.ts
index d71d646d63..821b53b40d 100644
--- a/packages/app-tests/appTheme.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app-tests/appTheme.test.ts
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ test("normalizes stored app theme modes", () => {
   assert.equal(normalizeAppThemeMode("dark"), "dark");
   assert.equal(normalizeAppThemeMode("light"), "light");
   assert.equal(normalizeAppThemeMode("system"), "system");
-  assert.equal(normalizeAppThemeMode(null), "dark");
-  assert.equal(normalizeAppThemeMode("unexpected"), "dark");
+  assert.equal(normalizeAppThemeMode(null), "light");
+  assert.equal(normalizeAppThemeMode("unexpected"), "light");
 });
 
 test("resolves system app theme from current system preference", () => {