diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 38adddc..322c2a7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -475,10 +475,10 @@ line:
 (disable-theme 'zenburn)
 ```
 
-Or you can use another theme altogether by adding something like:
+Or you can use another theme altogether by adding something in `personal/preload` like:
 
 ```lisp
-(load-theme 'solarized-dark t)
+(setq prelude-theme 'solarized-dark)
 ```
 
 **P.S.** Solarized is not available by default - you'll have to
diff --git a/core/prelude-custom.el b/core/prelude-custom.el
index 6a76867..193ef9e 100644
--- a/core/prelude-custom.el
+++ b/core/prelude-custom.el
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ Only modes that don't derive from `prog-mode' should be listed here."
   :type 'number
   :group 'prelude)
 
+(defcustom prelude-theme 'zenburn
+  "The default color theme, change this in your /personal/preload config."
+  :type 'symbol
+  :group 'prelude)
+
 (provide 'prelude-custom)
 
 ;;; prelude-custom.el ends here
diff --git a/core/prelude-ui.el b/core/prelude-ui.el
index 15906cb..b5d64d0 100644
--- a/core/prelude-ui.el
+++ b/core/prelude-ui.el
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
                                           "%b"))))
 
 ;; use zenburn as the default theme
-(load-theme 'zenburn t)
+(load-theme prelude-theme t)
 
 (provide 'prelude-ui)
 ;;; prelude-ui.el ends here
diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index beea1cd..e42619a 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ by Prelude.")
 
 ;; the core stuff
 (require 'prelude-packages)
+(require 'prelude-custom)  ;; Needs to be loaded before core, editor and ui
 (require 'prelude-ui)
-(require 'prelude-custom)  ;; Needs to be loaded before core and editor
 (require 'prelude-core)
 (require 'prelude-mode)
 (require 'prelude-editor)