diff --git a/src/renderer.ts b/src/renderer.ts
index b0870c5..a99f27d 100644
--- a/src/renderer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer.ts
@@ -512,9 +512,9 @@ function renderChatViewerList(messages: ChatViewerMessage[]): void {
             if (user) {
                 const uSpan = document.createElement('span');
                 uSpan.className = 'chat-viewer-user';
-                // Per-user IRC color is preserved; the class supplies weight.
+                // Per-user IRC color overrides the default accent colour
+                // supplied by .chat-viewer-user; the class also sets weight.
                 if (m.color) uSpan.style.color = m.color;
-                else uSpan.style.color = 'var(--accent)';
                 uSpan.textContent = `${user}:`;
                 row.appendChild(uSpan);
             }
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index 608f3c6..1b2c2d2 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -3823,6 +3823,7 @@ input[type="number"]::-webkit-outer-spin-button {
 .chat-viewer-row .chat-viewer-user {
     font-weight: 700;
     margin-right: 4px;
+    color: var(--accent);
 }
 
 .chat-viewer-row .chat-viewer-tag {