diff --git a/src/config/theme.rs b/src/config/theme.rs
index 22fc4a1..fd3927e 100644
--- a/src/config/theme.rs
+++ b/src/config/theme.rs
@@ -781,6 +781,11 @@ impl ColorTheme {
             return Theme::dark();
         }
 
+        // Try user themes loaded at runtime first so users can override built-in themes
+        if let Some(theme) = load_user_theme(&self.id) {
+            return theme;
+        }
+
         // Try embedded themes (generated + custom built-in)
         for dir in &[&GENERATED_THEMES_DIR, &CUSTOM_THEMES_DIR] {
             for file in dir.files() {
@@ -797,11 +802,6 @@ impl ColorTheme {
             }
         }
 
-        // Try user themes loaded at runtime
-        if let Some(theme) = load_user_theme(&self.id) {
-            return theme;
-        }
-
         Theme::dark()
     }
 }
@@ -823,7 +823,20 @@ pub fn load_color_themes() -> Vec<ColorTheme> {
     });
     seen_ids.insert("default".to_string());
 
-    // 2. Embedded themes (generated + custom built-in)
+    // 2. User themes from ~/.config/lazygit/themes/ (takes precedence over embedded themes)
+    if let Some(user_themes) = discover_user_themes() {
+        for (id, name, appearance) in user_themes {
+            if seen_ids.insert(id.clone()) {
+                themes.push(ColorTheme {
+                    name,
+                    id,
+                    appearance,
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // 3. Embedded themes (generated + custom built-in)
     for dir in &[&GENERATED_THEMES_DIR, &CUSTOM_THEMES_DIR] {
         for file in dir.files() {
             if file.path().extension().and_then(|e| e.to_str()) != Some("json") {
@@ -843,19 +856,6 @@ pub fn load_color_themes() -> Vec<ColorTheme> {
         }
     }
 
-    // 3. User themes from ~/.config/lazygit/themes/
-    if let Some(user_themes) = discover_user_themes() {
-        for (id, name, appearance) in user_themes {
-            if seen_ids.insert(id.clone()) {
-                themes.push(ColorTheme {
-                    name,
-                    id,
-                    appearance,
-                });
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     // Dark themes first, then light — alphabetical within each group.
     // Default stays at index 0.
     if themes.len() > 1 {
@@ -1030,3 +1030,22 @@ fn parse_color(s: &str) -> Option<Color> {
         _ => None,
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_white_theme_loaded_and_light() {
+        let themes = load_color_themes();
+        let white = themes.iter().find(|t| t.id == "white");
+        assert!(white.is_some(), "white theme should be available");
+        let white = white.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(white.name, "White");
+        assert_eq!(white.appearance, ThemeAppearance::Light);
+
+        let theme = white.to_theme();
+        assert_eq!(theme.text, Color::Rgb(0, 0, 0));
+        assert_eq!(theme.accent, Color::Rgb(0, 0, 0));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/themes/white.json b/src/themes/white.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..adcd822
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/themes/white.json
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+{
+  "id": "white",
+  "name": "White",
+  "appearance": "light",
+  "primary": "#000000",
+  "secondary": "#2e2e2e",
+  "accent": "#000000",
+  "accent_secondary": "#1a1a1a",
+  "success": "#2e2e2e",
+  "error": "#000000",
+  "warning": "#1a1a1a",
+  "info": "#3a3a3a",
+  "text": "#000000",
+  "text_strong": "#000000",
+  "text_dimmed": "#6e6e6e",
+  "background": "#ffffff",
+  "background_panel": "#ffffff",
+  "selected_bg": "#e0e0e0",
+  "separator": "#e8e8e8",
+  "popup_border": "#000000",
+  "border": "#000000",
+  "border_active": "#000000",
+  "diff_add": "#2e2e2e",
+  "diff_remove": "#000000",
+  "diff_context": "#000000",
+  "diff_add_bg": "#e6ffec",
+  "diff_remove_bg": "#ffebe9",
+  "diff_add_word": "#acf2bd",
+  "diff_remove_word": "#ffc8c8",
+  "diff_line_number": "#c0c0c0",
+  "syntax_comment": "#6e6e6e",
+  "syntax_keyword": "#000000",
+  "syntax_string": "#3a3a3a",
+  "syntax_number": "#3a3a3a",
+  "syntax_function": "#000000",
+  "syntax_type": "#1a1a1a",
+  "syntax_operator": "#4a4a4a",
+  "syntax_punctuation": "#4a4a4a",
+  "syntax_variable": "#2e2e2e",
+  "graph_colors": [
+    "#000000",
+    "#2e2e2e",
+    "#1a1a1a",
+    "#3a3a3a",
+    "#4a4a4a",
+    "#5a5a5a",
+    "#6e6e6e",
+    "#808080"
+  ]
+}