diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/welcome/overlay/browser/welcomeOverlay.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/welcome/overlay/browser/welcomeOverlay.ts
index d5a435aac227d9ee099a0db27bd324307dabcc86..20c82ff7a7cfcfeb2051cfdebc87d1c88d50a7d7 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/welcome/overlay/browser/welcomeOverlay.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/welcome/overlay/browser/welcomeOverlay.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ import { RawContextKey, IContextKey, IContextKeyService } from 'vs/platform/cont
 import { KeyCode } from 'vs/base/common/keyCodes';
 import { IInstantiationService } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/instantiation';
 import { registerThemingParticipant } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/themeService';
-import { registerColor, textPreformatForeground } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/colorRegistry';
+import { textPreformatForeground, foreground } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/colorRegistry';
+import { Color } from 'vs/base/common/color';
 
 interface Key {
 	id: string;
@@ -238,15 +239,12 @@ Registry.as<IWorkbenchActionRegistry>(Extensions.WorkbenchActions)
 
 // theming
 
-const foreground = registerColor('welcomeOverlay.foreground', { dark: '#fff', light: '#000', hc: '#fff' }, localize('welcomeOverlay.foreground', 'Foreground color for the Interface Overview.'));
-const background = registerColor('welcomeOverlay.background', { dark: '#00000085', light: '#FFFFFF85', hc: '#00000085' }, localize('welcomeOverlay.background', 'Background color for the Interface Overview.'));
-
 registerThemingParticipant((theme, collector) => {
 	const key = theme.getColor(foreground);
 	if (key) {
 		collector.addRule(`.monaco-workbench > .welcomeOverlay > .key { color: ${key}; }`);
 	}
-	const backgroundColor = theme.getColor(background);
+	const backgroundColor = Color.fromHex(theme.type === 'light' ? '#FFFFFF85' : '#00000085');
 	if (backgroundColor) {
 		collector.addRule(`.monaco-workbench > .welcomeOverlay { background: ${backgroundColor}; }`);
 	}