diff --git a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/avatar.less b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/avatar.less
index 4ba4e8c44..59a5189b8 100644
--- a/customize.dist/src/less2/include/avatar.less
+++ b/customize.dist/src/less2/include/avatar.less
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 ) {
     @avatar-width: @width;
     @avatar-font-size: @width / 1.2;
+    @avatar-default-bg: #D9D8D8;
+    @avatar-default-fg: darken(@avatar-default-bg, 40%);
 }
 .avatar_main(@width: 30px) {
     --LessLoader_require: LessLoader_currentFile();
@@ -36,8 +38,8 @@
         }
         .cp-avatar-default {
             .tools_unselectable();
-            background: rgb(160, 160, 160); // XXX testing 
-            color: @cryptpad_text_col; // XXX testing 
+            background:@avatar-default-bg; // XXX testing 
+            color: @avatar-default-fg; // XXX testing 
             font-size: @avatar-font-size;
             font-size: var(--avatar-font-size);
             text-transform: capitalize;