diff --git a/aoapplication.cpp b/aoapplication.cpp
index e170c99..12e540c 100644
--- a/aoapplication.cpp
+++ b/aoapplication.cpp
@@ -86,15 +86,17 @@ void AOApplication::destruct_courtroom()
   courtroom_constructed = false;
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_version_string(){
+QString AOApplication::get_version_string()
+{
   return
   QString::number(RELEASE) + "." +
   QString::number(MAJOR_VERSION) + "." +
   QString::number(MINOR_VERSION);
 }
 
-void AOApplication::set_user_theme(){
-  user_theme = read_user_theme();
+void AOApplication::reload_theme()
+{
+  current_theme = read_theme();
 }
 
 void AOApplication::set_favorite_list()
diff --git a/aoapplication.h b/aoapplication.h
index 3d1936c..e124560 100644
--- a/aoapplication.h
+++ b/aoapplication.h
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ public:
   int get_minor_version() {return MINOR_VERSION;}
   QString get_version_string();
 
+  ///////////////////////////////////////////
+
   void set_favorite_list();
   QVector<server_type>& get_favorite_list() {return favorite_list;}
   void add_favorite_server(int p_server);
@@ -84,8 +86,10 @@ public:
   void set_server_list();
   QVector<server_type>& get_server_list() {return server_list;}
 
-  void set_user_theme();
-  QString get_user_theme() {return user_theme;}
+  //reads the theme from config.ini and sets it accordingly
+  void reload_theme();
+
+  //QString get_theme() {return current_theme;}
 
   QString get_current_char();
 
@@ -103,8 +107,10 @@ public:
   QString get_evidence_path();
 
   //implementation in text_file_functions.cpp
+
+  QString read_file(QString p_path);
   QString read_config(QString searchline);
-  QString read_user_theme();
+  QString read_theme();
   int read_blip_rate();
   bool get_blank_blip();
   int get_default_music();
@@ -143,7 +149,7 @@ private:
   const int MAJOR_VERSION = 4;
   const int MINOR_VERSION = 8;
 
-  QString user_theme = "default";
+  QString current_theme = "default";
 
   QVector<server_type> server_list;
   QVector<server_type> favorite_list;
diff --git a/courtroom.cpp b/courtroom.cpp
index 74ee6e9..ca94f43 100644
--- a/courtroom.cpp
+++ b/courtroom.cpp
@@ -1973,7 +1973,7 @@ void Courtroom::on_change_character_clicked()
 
 void Courtroom::on_reload_theme_clicked()
 { 
-  ao_app->set_user_theme();
+  ao_app->reload_theme();
 
   //to update status on the background
   set_background(current_background);
diff --git a/lobby.cpp b/lobby.cpp
index 1df765f..3a10439 100644
--- a/lobby.cpp
+++ b/lobby.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "aoapplication.h"
 #include "networkmanager.h"
 #include "aosfxplayer.h"
+#include "file_functions.h"
 
 #include <QDebug>
 #include <QScrollBar>
@@ -51,14 +52,27 @@ Lobby::Lobby(AOApplication *p_ao_app) : QMainWindow()
   connect(ui_chatmessage, SIGNAL(returnPressed()), this, SLOT(on_chatfield_return_pressed()));
   connect(ui_cancel, SIGNAL(clicked()), ao_app, SLOT(loading_cancelled()));
 
-  set_widgets();
+  //set_widgets();
+  set_theme();
+}
+
+void Lobby::set_theme()
+{
+  ao_app->reload_theme();
+
+  //check if our current theme is a valid qss theme
+  if (!file_exists(ao_app->get_theme_path() + "lobby.qss"))
+  {
+    set_widgets();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  this->setStyleSheet(ao_app->read_file(ao_app->get_theme_path() + "lobby.qss"));
 }
 
 //sets images, position and size
 void Lobby::set_widgets()
 {
-  ao_app->set_user_theme();
-
   QString filename = "lobby_design.ini";
 
   pos_size_type f_lobby = ao_app->get_element_dimensions("lobby", filename);
diff --git a/lobby.h b/lobby.h
index 2d3aee5..20b3734 100644
--- a/lobby.h
+++ b/lobby.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class Lobby : public QMainWindow
 public:
   Lobby(AOApplication *p_ao_app);
 
+  void set_theme();
   void set_widgets();
   void list_servers();
   void list_favorites();
diff --git a/path_functions.cpp b/path_functions.cpp
index 754ce9e..6e772db 100644
--- a/path_functions.cpp
+++ b/path_functions.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ QString AOApplication::get_data_path()
 
 QString AOApplication::get_theme_path()
 {
-  return get_base_path() + "themes/" + user_theme.toLower() + "/";
+  return get_base_path() + "themes/" + current_theme.toLower() + "/";
 }
 
 QString AOApplication::get_default_theme_path()
diff --git a/text_file_functions.cpp b/text_file_functions.cpp
index 47a9df3..2bc8903 100644
--- a/text_file_functions.cpp
+++ b/text_file_functions.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,15 @@
 #include <QDebug>
 #include <QColor>
 
+QString AOApplication::read_file(QString p_path)
+{
+  QFile file(p_path);
+  if (!file.open(QFile::ReadOnly))
+    return "";
+
+  return file.readAll();
+}
+
 QString AOApplication::read_config(QString searchline)
 {
   QString return_value = "";
@@ -42,7 +51,7 @@ QString AOApplication::read_config(QString searchline)
   return return_value;
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::read_user_theme()
+QString AOApplication::read_theme()
 {
   QString result = read_config("theme");