diff --git a/public/site-scripts/theme-toggle.js b/public/site-scripts/theme-toggle.js
index df394f4..12c792c 100644
--- a/public/site-scripts/theme-toggle.js
+++ b/public/site-scripts/theme-toggle.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     const themeIcon = document.getElementById('theme-icon');
     
     function getStoredTheme() {
-        return localStorage.getItem('picoPreferredColorScheme') || document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') || 'auto';
+        return localStorage.getItem('picoPreferredColorScheme') || 'auto';
     }
     
     function storeTheme(theme) {
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@
     
     function init() {
         if (themeToggle) {
+
+            let storedTheme = getStoredTheme();
+            if (storedTheme && storedTheme !== 'auto') {
+                applyTheme(storedTheme);
+            }
             
             themeToggle.addEventListener('click', toggleTheme);