diff --git a/lib/api/src/modules/layout.ts b/lib/api/src/modules/layout.ts
index 3fba1905012c..a76cde6ce748 100644
--- a/lib/api/src/modules/layout.ts
+++ b/lib/api/src/modules/layout.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import global from 'global';
 import pick from 'lodash/pick';
 import deepEqual from 'fast-deep-equal';
-import { themes } from '@storybook/theming';
+import { create } from '@storybook/theming';
 import type { ThemeVars } from '@storybook/theming';
 import { once } from '@storybook/client-logger';
 import dedent from 'ts-dedent';
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ const defaultState: SubState = {
     showTabs: true,
   },
   selectedPanel: undefined,
-  theme: themes.light,
+  theme: create(),
 };
 
 export const focusableUIElements = {