diff --git a/nix/hm-module.nix b/nix/hm-module.nix
index aae7fd2..ce34b6a 100644
--- a/nix/hm-module.nix
+++ b/nix/hm-module.nix
@@ -111,8 +111,6 @@ in
   };
 
   config = lib.mkIf cfg.enable {
-    programs.nova-shell.theme = lib.mkIf stylixAvailable (lib.mkDefault stylixTheme);
-
     home.packages =
       [
         self.packages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.nova-shell-cli
@@ -124,8 +122,11 @@ in
       (pkgs.formats.json { }).generate "nova-shell-modules.json" cfg.modules;
 
     xdg.configFile."nova-shell/theme.json".source =
-      (pkgs.formats.json { }).generate "nova-shell-theme.json"
-        cfg.theme;
+      let
+        stylixDefaults = if stylixAvailable then stylixTheme else { };
+        finalTheme = lib.recursiveUpdate stylixDefaults cfg.theme;
+      in
+      (pkgs.formats.json { }).generate "nova-shell-theme.json" finalTheme;
 
     systemd.user.services.nova-shell = lib.mkIf cfg.systemd.enable {
       Unit = {