diff --git a/src/qt6ct-common/qt6ct.cpp b/src/qt6ct-common/qt6ct.cpp
index 6cd5b2c..220738e 100644
--- a/src/qt6ct-common/qt6ct.cpp
+++ b/src/qt6ct-common/qt6ct.cpp
@@ -124,6 +124,9 @@ QStringList Qt6CT::sharedColorSchemePaths()
 
 QString Qt6CT::resolvePath(const QString &path)
 {
+    if(path.isEmpty())
+        return path;
+
     QString tmp = path;
     tmp.replace("~", QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::HomeLocation));
     if(!tmp.contains("$"))
diff --git a/src/qt6ct-qtplugin/qt6ctplatformtheme.cpp b/src/qt6ct-qtplugin/qt6ctplatformtheme.cpp
index dca9423..d724d67 100644
--- a/src/qt6ct-qtplugin/qt6ctplatformtheme.cpp
+++ b/src/qt6ct-qtplugin/qt6ctplatformtheme.cpp
@@ -250,18 +250,16 @@ void Qt6CTPlatformTheme::updateSettings()
 
 void Qt6CTPlatformTheme::readSettings()
 {
-    m_palette.reset();
-
     QSettings settings(Qt6CT::configFile(), QSettings::IniFormat);
 
     settings.beginGroup("Appearance");
     m_style = settings.value("style", "Fusion").toString();
-    QString schemePath = settings.value("color_scheme_path").toString();
-    if(!schemePath.isEmpty() && settings.value("custom_palette", false).toBool())
-    {
-        schemePath = Qt6CT::resolvePath(schemePath); //replace environment variables
-        m_palette = std::make_unique<QPalette>(Qt6CT::loadColorScheme(schemePath, *QPlatformTheme::palette(SystemPalette)));
-    }
+    QString schemePath = settings.value("custom_palette", false).toBool()
+        ? Qt6CT::resolvePath(settings.value("color_scheme_path").toString()) //replace environment variables
+        : QString();
+    m_palette = !schemePath.isEmpty()
+        ? std::make_unique<QPalette>(Qt6CT::loadColorScheme(schemePath, *QPlatformTheme::palette(SystemPalette)))
+        : nullptr;
     m_iconTheme = settings.value("icon_theme").toString();
     //load dialogs
     if(!m_update)
diff --git a/src/qt6ct/appearancepage.cpp b/src/qt6ct/appearancepage.cpp
index 312f188..b599c06 100644
--- a/src/qt6ct/appearancepage.cpp
+++ b/src/qt6ct/appearancepage.cpp
@@ -326,8 +326,7 @@ void AppearancePage::readSettings()
     m_ui->styleComboBox->setCurrentText(style);
 
     m_ui->customPaletteButton->setChecked(settings.value("custom_palette", false).toBool());
-    QString colorSchemePath = settings.value("color_scheme_path").toString();
-    colorSchemePath = Qt6CT::resolvePath(colorSchemePath); //replace environment variables
+    QString colorSchemePath = Qt6CT::resolvePath(settings.value("color_scheme_path").toString()); //replace environment variables
 
     QDir("/").mkpath(Qt6CT::userColorSchemePath());
     findColorSchemes(Qt6CT::userColorSchemePath());