diff --git a/src/Plots.jl b/src/Plots.jl
index f1026810..8cf0f564 100644
--- a/src/Plots.jl
+++ b/src/Plots.jl
@@ -296,8 +296,11 @@ const CURRENT_BACKEND = CurrentBackend(:none)
 # for compatibility with Requires.jl:
 @init begin
     if isdefined(Main, :PLOTS_DEFAULTS)
+        if haskey(Main.PLOTS_DEFAULTS, :theme)
+            theme(Main.PLOTS_DEFAULTS[:theme])
+        end
         for (k,v) in Main.PLOTS_DEFAULTS
-            default(k, v)
+            k == :theme || default(k, v)
         end
     end
 end