diff --git a/data/theme/gnome-shell-high-contrast.scss b/data/theme/gnome-shell-high-contrast.scss
index 23a55eb86..ed52bbb86 100644
--- a/data/theme/gnome-shell-high-contrast.scss
+++ b/data/theme/gnome-shell-high-contrast.scss
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-$variant: 'light';
+$variant: 'dark';
 
 @import "gnome-shell-sass/_high-contrast-colors"; //use gtk colors
 @import "gnome-shell-sass/_drawing";
diff --git a/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/widgets/_panel.scss b/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/widgets/_panel.scss
index ba8e6675c..298877f23 100644
--- a/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/widgets/_panel.scss
+++ b/data/theme/gnome-shell-sass/widgets/_panel.scss
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 $panel_corner_radius: $base_border_radius+1;
 $panel_bg_color: if($variant == 'light', rgba(0,0,0,0.9), #000);
-$panel_fg_color: if($variant == 'light', darken($bg_color, 15%), darken($fg_color, 10%));
+$panel_fg_color: if($variant == 'light', darken($fg_color, 15%), darken($fg_color, 10%));
 $panel_height: 1.86em;
 
 
@@ -103,4 +103,4 @@ $panel_height: 1.86em;
 #appMenu {
   spacing: $base_spacing;
   .label-shadow { color: transparent; }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}