diff --git a/data/themes/labwc-default/openbox-3/themerc b/data/themes/labwc-default/openbox-3/themerc
index c698a50d..1a1c033c 100644
--- a/data/themes/labwc-default/openbox-3/themerc
+++ b/data/themes/labwc-default/openbox-3/themerc
@@ -2,3 +2,6 @@ window.active.title.bg.color: #589bda
 window.active.handle.bg.color: #3c7cb7
 
 window.inactive.title.bg.color: #efece6
+
+window.active.button.unpressed.image.color = #ffffff
+
diff --git a/src/theme/theme.c b/src/theme/theme.c
index 9a016707..d4ddd536 100644
--- a/src/theme/theme.c
+++ b/src/theme/theme.c
@@ -91,6 +91,24 @@ static void process_line(char *line)
 	entry(key, value);
 }
 
+/*
+ * We generally use Openbox defaults, but if no theme file can be found it's
+ * better to populate the theme variables with some sane values as no-one
+ * wants to use openbox without a theme - it'll all just be black and white.
+ *
+ * Openbox doesn't actual start if it can't find a theme. As it's normally
+ * packaged with Clearlooks, this is not a problem, but for labwc I thought
+ * this was a bit hard-line. People might want to try labwc without having
+ * Openbox (and associated themes) installed.
+ */
+void theme_builtin(void)
+{
+	parse_hexstr("#589bda", theme.window_active_title_bg_color);
+	parse_hexstr("#3c7cb7", theme.window_active_handle_bg_color);
+	parse_hexstr("#efece6", theme.window_inactive_title_bg_color);
+	parse_hexstr("#ffffff", theme.window_active_button_unpressed_image_color);
+}
+
 void theme_read(const char *theme_name)
 {
 	FILE *stream;
@@ -102,7 +120,8 @@ void theme_read(const char *theme_name)
 	info("reading themerc (%s)", themerc);
 	stream = fopen(themerc, "r");
 	if (!stream) {
-		warn("cannot read (%s)", themerc);
+		warn("cannot read (%s) - load built-in theme", themerc);
+		theme_builtin();
 		return;
 	}
 	while (getline(&line, &len, stream) != -1) {
diff --git a/src/theme/xbm/xbm.c b/src/theme/xbm/xbm.c
index d1b2969b..85a68826 100644
--- a/src/theme/xbm/xbm.c
+++ b/src/theme/xbm/xbm.c
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ out:
 		*texture = texture_from_builtin(renderer, button);
 }
 
+/* clang-format off */
 void xbm_load(struct wlr_renderer *r)
 {
 	parse_set_color(theme.window_active_button_unpressed_image_color);
@@ -76,3 +77,4 @@ void xbm_load(struct wlr_renderer *r)
 	load_button(r, "max.xbm", &theme.xbm_maximize, max_button_normal);
 	load_button(r, "iconify.xbm", &theme.xbm_iconify, iconify_button_normal);
 }
+/* clang-format on */