diff --git a/src/gmt_init.c b/src/gmt_init.c
index df716c0597c..c5759fd5d57 100644
--- a/src/gmt_init.c
+++ b/src/gmt_init.c
@@ -6110,6 +6110,9 @@ GMT_LOCAL void gmtinit_conf_modern_override (struct GMT_CTRL *GMT) {
 	strcpy (GMT->current.setting.format_geo_map, "ddd:mm:ssF");
 	gmtlib_plot_C_format (GMT);	/* Update format statements */
 
+	/* GMT_THEME */
+	strcpy (GMT->current.setting.theme, "modern");
+
 	/* MAP group */
 
 	/* MAP_ANNOT_MIN_SPACING */