diff --git a/frontend/playwright.config.js b/frontend/playwright.config.js
index a7e5496a7a..db8b9be4fc 100644
--- a/frontend/playwright.config.js
+++ b/frontend/playwright.config.js
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ export default defineConfig({
 
     locale: "en-US",
 
+    /* Profiles without a theme follow the system one; run the UI in dark */
+    colorScheme: "dark",
+
     permissions: ["clipboard-write", "clipboard-read"],
   },
 
@@ -73,9 +76,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
     },
     {
       name: "ds",
-      // Accounts without a theme follow the system one; keep the visual
-      // specs on the dark theme so their screenshots stay comparable.
-      use: { ...devices["Desktop Chrome"], colorScheme: "dark" },
+      use: { ...devices["Desktop Chrome"] },
       testDir: "./playwright/ui/visual-specs",
       expect: {
         timeout: expectTimeout,
diff --git a/frontend/playwright/ui/specs/workspace.spec.js b/frontend/playwright/ui/specs/workspace.spec.js
index b59266f5eb..051530b877 100644
--- a/frontend/playwright/ui/specs/workspace.spec.js
+++ b/frontend/playwright/ui/specs/workspace.spec.js
@@ -107,8 +107,6 @@ test("Selection size badge appears on selection and hides on deselect", async ({
 test("Selection size badge uses component color for component selection", async ({
   page,
 }) => {
-  // The expected component color below is the dark palette value.
-  await page.emulateMedia({ colorScheme: "dark" });
   const workspacePage = new WasmWorkspacePage(page);
   await workspacePage.setupEmptyFile();
   await workspacePage.mockGetFile("components/get-file-13267.json");