diff --git a/install/config/theme.sh b/install/config/theme.sh
index 0dab91ad..83e2b8dd 100644
--- a/install/config/theme.sh
+++ b/install/config/theme.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@ sudo ln -snf /usr/share/icons/Adwaita/symbolic/actions/go-next-symbolic.svg /usr
 # Setup user theme folder
 mkdir -p ~/.config/omarchy/themes
 
+# Add managed policy directories for Chromium and Brave for theme changes.
+# Must exist before the first omarchy-theme-set, which writes color.json into them.
+sudo mkdir -p /etc/chromium/policies/managed
+sudo chmod a+rw /etc/chromium/policies/managed
+
+sudo mkdir -p /etc/brave/policies/managed
+sudo chmod a+rw /etc/brave/policies/managed
+
 # Set initial theme
 omarchy-theme-set "Tokyo Night"
 rm -rf ~/.config/chromium/SingletonLock # otherwise archiso will own the chromium singleton
@@ -16,12 +24,5 @@ ln -snf ~/.config/omarchy/current/theme/btop.theme ~/.config/btop/themes/current
 mkdir -p ~/.config/mako
 ln -snf ~/.config/omarchy/current/theme/mako.ini ~/.config/mako/config
 
-# Add managed policy directories for Chromium and Brave for theme changes
-sudo mkdir -p /etc/chromium/policies/managed
-sudo chmod a+rw /etc/chromium/policies/managed
-
-sudo mkdir -p /etc/brave/policies/managed
-sudo chmod a+rw /etc/brave/policies/managed
-
 # Default Chromium to follow system appearance ("device") instead of dark
 echo '{"browser":{"theme":{"color_scheme":0,"color_scheme2":0}}}' | sudo tee /usr/lib/chromium/initial_preferences >/dev/null