diff --git a/helix-term/src/application.rs b/helix-term/src/application.rs
index 2a4bea655..499732f00 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/application.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/application.rs
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ impl Application {
             })),
             handlers,
         );
+        editor.set_theme(theme);
 
         let keys = Box::new(Map::new(Arc::clone(&config), |config: &Config| {
             &config.keys
@@ -237,8 +238,6 @@ impl Application {
                 .unwrap_or_else(|_| editor.new_file(Action::VerticalSplit));
         }
 
-        editor.set_theme(theme);
-
         #[cfg(windows)]
         let signals = futures_util::stream::empty();
         #[cfg(not(windows))]