diff --git a/src/vector/index.js b/src/vector/index.js
index 46ef706ee..b8291dcfd 100644
--- a/src/vector/index.js
+++ b/src/vector/index.js
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ import Platform from './platform';
 import MatrixClientPeg from 'matrix-react-sdk/lib/MatrixClientPeg';
 import SettingsStore, {SettingLevel} from "matrix-react-sdk/lib/settings/SettingsStore";
 import Tinter from 'matrix-react-sdk/lib/Tinter';
+import SdkConfig from "matrix-react-sdk/lib/SdkConfig";
 
 var lastLocationHashSet = null;
 
@@ -245,8 +246,30 @@ async function loadApp() {
     // set the platform for react sdk (our Platform object automatically picks the right one)
     PlatformPeg.set(new Platform());
 
+    // Load the config file. First try to load up a domain-specific config of the
+    // form "config.$domain.json" and if that fails, fall back to config.json.
+    let configJson;
+    let configError;
+    try {
+        try {
+            configJson = await getConfig(`config.${document.domain}.json`);
+            // 404s succeed with an empty json config, so check that there are keys
+            if (Object.keys(configJson).length === 0) {
+                throw new Error(); // throw to enter the catch
+            }
+        } catch (e) {
+            configJson = await getConfig("config.json");
+        }
+    } catch (e) {
+        configError = e;
+    }
+    
+    // XXX: We call this twice, once here and once in MatrixChat as a prop. We call it here to ensure
+    // granular settings are loaded correctly and to avoid duplicating the override logic for the theme. 
+    SdkConfig.put(configJson);
+
     // don't try to redirect to the native apps if we're
-    // verifying a 3pid
+    // verifying a 3pid (but after we've loaded the config)
     const preventRedirect = Boolean(fragparts.params.client_secret);
 
     if (!preventRedirect) {
@@ -278,28 +301,10 @@ async function loadApp() {
         }
     }
 
-    // Load the config file. First try to load up a domain-specific config of the
-    // form "config.$domain.json" and if that fails, fall back to config.json.
-    let configJson;
-    let configError;
-    try {
-        try {
-            configJson = await getConfig(`config.${document.domain}.json`);
-            // 404s succeed with an empty json config, so check that there are keys
-            if (Object.keys(configJson).length === 0) {
-                throw new Error(); // throw to enter the catch
-            }
-        } catch (e) {
-            configJson = await getConfig("config.json");
-        }
-    } catch (e) {
-        configError = e;
-    }
-
     // as quickly as we possibly can, set a default theme...
     const styleElements = Object.create(null);
     let a;
-    const theme = SettingsStore.getValueAt(SettingLevel.DEFAULT, "theme");
+    const theme = SettingsStore.getValue("theme");
     for (let i = 0; (a = document.getElementsByTagName("link")[i]); i++) {
         const href = a.getAttribute("href");
         if (!href) continue;