diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6de00c5..7f8e107 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+### 2026-05-16
+- fix: resetting bg color now also resets foreground/accent color ([LAC-1313](https://github.com/lacymorrow/xover/issues/3))
+
 ### 2024-12-19
 - Feature: SVG circle demo crosshair added
 - Improvements: Enhanced crosshair rendering and positioning
diff --git a/src/main/crossover.js b/src/main/crossover.js
index 1a55ce2..32f7003 100644
--- a/src/main/crossover.js
+++ b/src/main/crossover.js
@@ -347,17 +347,22 @@ const syncSettings = ( options = preferences.preferences ) => {
 		'--circle-thickness': options.crosshair.circleThickness,
 	}
 
-	// App color is set
+	// App colors — highlight only applies when bg is also set; resetting bg resets highlight too
 
-	if ( options.app.appHighlightColor.charAt( 0 ) === '#' ) {
+	if ( options.app.appBgColor.charAt( 0 ) === '#' ) {
 
-		properties['--app-highlight-color'] = options.app.appHighlightColor
+		properties['--app-bg-color'] = hexToRgbA( options.app.appBgColor, APP_BACKGROUND_OPACITY )
 
-	}
+		if ( options.app.appHighlightColor.charAt( 0 ) === '#' ) {
 
-	if ( options.app.appBgColor.charAt( 0 ) === '#' ) {
+			properties['--app-highlight-color'] = options.app.appHighlightColor
 
-		properties['--app-bg-color'] = hexToRgbA( options.app.appBgColor, APP_BACKGROUND_OPACITY )
+		}
+
+	} else if ( options.app.appHighlightColor !== 'unset' ) {
+
+		// bg was reset to default — clear orphaned highlight color so buttons stay visible
+		preferences.value( 'app.appHighlightColor', 'unset' )
 
 	}