diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/kde-5/plasma/startkde/startkde.sh b/pkgs/desktops/kde-5/plasma/startkde/startkde.sh
index 18cf08081c4..c0d5f6dbf59 100755
--- a/pkgs/desktops/kde-5/plasma/startkde/startkde.sh
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/kde-5/plasma/startkde/startkde.sh
@@ -71,11 +71,14 @@ fi
 configDir=$(qtpaths --writable-path GenericConfigLocation)
 mkdir -p "$configDir"
 
+THEME=org.kde.breeze
 #This is basically setting defaults so we can use them with kstartupconfig5
+#We cannot set the equivilant of THEME here as it will generate an
+#invalid variable name (with dots)
 cat >$configDir/startupconfigkeys <<EOF
 kcminputrc Mouse cursorTheme 'breeze_cursors'
 kcminputrc Mouse cursorSize ''
-ksplashrc KSplash Theme Breeze
+ksplashrc KSplash Theme ${THEME}.desktop
 ksplashrc KSplash Engine KSplashQML
 kdeglobals KScreen ScreenScaleFactors ''
 kcmfonts General forceFontDPI 0
@@ -144,6 +147,8 @@ if test -n "$kcminputrc_mouse_cursortheme" -o -n "$kcminputrc_mouse_cursorsize"
     fi
 fi
 
+unset THEME
+
 # Set a left cursor instead of the standard X11 "X" cursor, since I've heard
 # from some users that they're confused and don't know what to do. This is
 # especially necessary on slow machines, where starting KDE takes one or two