diff --git a/solara/lab/components/theming.py b/solara/lab/components/theming.py
index e19152c5b..ffb438164 100644
--- a/solara/lab/components/theming.py
+++ b/solara/lab/components/theming.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ def Page():
     """
 
     def sync_themes(selected_theme: str):
-        selected_theme
         theme.dark = selected_theme
 
     return _ThemeToggle(
diff --git a/solara/lab/components/theming.vue b/solara/lab/components/theming.vue
index afb4aadce..f3809b839 100644
--- a/solara/lab/components/theming.vue
+++ b/solara/lab/components/theming.vue
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
 <script>
 module.exports = {
     mounted() {
+        if (theme.variant_user_selectable) {
+            if (localStorage.getItem('theme.variant')) {
+                this.theme_effective = this.initTheme();
+            }
+        }
+
         if ( this.theme_effective === false ) {
             this.clicks = 2;
         } else if ( this.theme_effective === null ) {
@@ -42,6 +48,10 @@ module.exports = {
         stringifyTheme() {
             return this.theme_effective === true ? 'dark' : this.theme_effective === false ? 'light' : 'auto';
         },
+        initTheme() {
+            storedTheme = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('theme.variant'));
+            return storedTheme === 'dark' ? true : storedTheme === 'light' ? false : null;
+        },
         setTheme() {
             if ( window.solara && this.theme_effective === null ) {
                 this.$vuetify.theme.dark = this.prefersDarkScheme();