diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 99bc5d4..0c54eb3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ require('kanso').setup({
         return {}
     end,
     background = {               -- map the value of 'background' option to a theme
-        dark = "ink",           -- try "zen" !
-        light = "pearl"           -- try "mist" !
+        dark = "ink",           -- try "zen", "mist" or "pearl" !
+        light = "ink"           -- try "zen", "mist" or "pearl" !
     },
     foreground = "default",      -- "default" or "saturated" (can also be a table like background)
 })
diff --git a/lua/kanso/init.lua b/lua/kanso/init.lua
index 23e6295..c08c8a7 100644
--- a/lua/kanso/init.lua
+++ b/lua/kanso/init.lua
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ M.config = {
         return {}
     end,
     ---@type { dark: string, light: string }
-    background = { dark = "ink", light = "pearl" },
+    background = { dark = "ink", light = "ink" },
     theme = "ink",
     ---@type { dark: "default"|"saturated", light: "default"|"saturated" }|"default"|"saturated"
     foreground = "default",
@@ -52,7 +52,13 @@ end
 function M.load(theme)
     local utils = require("kanso.utils")
 
-    theme = theme or M.config.background[vim.o.background] or M.config.theme
+    -- If theme is explicitly provided, use it and disable background-based switching
+    if theme then
+        M._EXPLICIT_THEME = theme
+    end
+
+    -- Use explicit theme if set, otherwise fall back to background-based selection
+    theme = M._EXPLICIT_THEME or M.config.background[vim.o.background] or M.config.theme
     M._CURRENT_THEME = theme
 
     if vim.g.colors_name then