diff --git a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/colortheme-dark.less b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/colortheme-dark.less
index a8d8af45a..64b4c296d 100644
--- a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/colortheme-dark.less
+++ b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/colortheme-dark.less
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@
 @cryptpad_text_col: @cryptpad_color_grey_200;
 @cryptpad_text_col_inv: @cryptpad_color_grey_900;
 
+@cryptpad_ui_shadow: 0px 0px 5px 1px #00000030;
+
 @cryptpad_color_blue: #326599; // former logo-1
 @cryptpad_color_light_blue: #00b7d8;
 @cryptpad_color_red: #ff1100;
diff --git a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/colortheme.less b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/colortheme.less
index e36718df9..845dd992d 100644
--- a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/colortheme.less
+++ b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/colortheme.less
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@
 @cryptpad_text_col:@cryptpad_color_grey_800;
 @cryptpad_text_col_inv: @cryptpad_color_grey_50;
 
+@cryptpad_ui_shadow: 0px 0px 5px 1px #00000030;
+
 @cryptpad_color_blue: #326599; // former logo-1
 @cryptpad_color_light_blue: #00b7d8;
 @cryptpad_color_red: #ff1100;
diff --git a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/creation.less b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/creation.less
index e64bd74a3..de28372b8 100644
--- a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/creation.less
+++ b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/creation.less
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@
                 max-height: 159px;
                 align-items: center;
                 .cp-creation-template-element {
-                    box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px 1px #00000030; // XXX DB: make shadow var
+                    box-shadow: @cryptpad_ui_shadow;
                     width: 300px;
                     max-width: calc(100% - 10px);
                     padding: 5px;
diff --git a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/drive.less b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/drive.less
index 2ec08c712..b172ede46 100644
--- a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/drive.less
+++ b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/drive.less
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@
             margin-top: 10px;
             background-color: @cp_sidebar-left-item-bg;
             border-radius: @variables_radius;
-            box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px 1px #00000030; // XXX DB: make shadow var
+            box-shadow: @cryptpad_ui_shadow;
             .cp-app-drive-tree-root {
                 .fa-trash-o {
                     padding-left: 2px;
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
             }
         }
         .cp-app-drive-tree-docs {
-            box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px 1px #00000030; // XXX DB: make shadow var
+            box-shadow: @cryptpad_ui_shadow;
 
             .cp-app-drive-element-row {
                 &.cp-leftside-active {
diff --git a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/sidebar-layout.less b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/sidebar-layout.less
index ff14f3dff..0117244c6 100644
--- a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/sidebar-layout.less
+++ b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/sidebar-layout.less
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
                     display: flex;
                     align-items: center;
                     .leftside-menu-category_main();
-                    box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px 1px #00000030; // XXX DB: make shadow var
+                    box-shadow: @cryptpad_ui_shadow;
                 }
             }
             &.cp-leftside-narrow {
diff --git a/www/kanban/app-kanban.less b/www/kanban/app-kanban.less
index a1f3553b7..ffc8f327d 100644
--- a/www/kanban/app-kanban.less
+++ b/www/kanban/app-kanban.less
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
             display: flex;
             flex-flow: column;
             border-radius: @variables_radius;
-            box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px 1px #00000030; // XXX DB: make shadow var
+            box-shadow: @cryptpad_ui_shadow;
         }
         color: @cp_kanban-fg;
         button {
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
         border-radius: @variables_radius;
         flex-wrap: wrap;
         background: @cp_kanban-item-bg;
-        box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px 1px #00000030; // XXX  DB: make shadow var
+        box-shadow: @cryptpad_ui_shadow;
         .tools_unselectable();
         touch-action: none;
         cursor: move;