diff --git a/frontend/popout.html b/frontend/popout.html
index fe30320..db66e72 100644
--- a/frontend/popout.html
+++ b/frontend/popout.html
@@ -4,13 +4,20 @@
   <meta charset="UTF-8">
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
   <title>ObsiGate - Popout</title>
+  <style id="theme-force">
+    /* Forced by inline script — bypasses any CSS loading issues */
+    html, body { background: #0f1117 !important; color: #e6edf3 !important; }
+  </style>
   <script>
-    // Inherit theme from opener or localStorage — query param has priority
     (function() {
       var m = location.search.match(/theme=([^&]+)/);
       var theme = (m && m[1]) || localStorage.getItem('obsigate-theme') || 'dark';
       document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', theme);
       if (m && m[1]) { localStorage.setItem('obsigate-theme', theme); }
+      // Force background/text as backup regardless of CSS variable loading
+      if (theme === 'light') {
+        document.getElementById('theme-force').textContent = 'html, body { background: #ffffff !important; color: #1a1a1a !important; }';
+      }
     })();
   </script>
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css?v=2">