diff --git a/libs/widgets/ardour_button.cc b/libs/widgets/ardour_button.cc
index 7cd6386ed2..6bace1247e 100644
--- a/libs/widgets/ardour_button.cc
+++ b/libs/widgets/ardour_button.cc
@@ -783,13 +783,18 @@ ArdourButton::set_colors ()
 {
 	_update_colors = false;
 
+	std::string name = get_name();
+	bool failed = false;
+
+	outline_color = UIConfigurationBase::instance().color (string_compose ("%1: outline", name), &failed);
+	if (failed) {
+		outline_color = UIConfigurationBase::instance().color ("generic button: outline");
+	}
+
 	if (_fixed_colors_set == 0x3) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	std::string name = get_name();
-	bool failed = false;
-
 	if (!(_fixed_colors_set & 0x1)) {
 		fill_active_color = UIConfigurationBase::instance().color (string_compose ("%1: fill active", name), &failed);
 		if (failed) {
@@ -812,9 +817,6 @@ ArdourButton::set_colors ()
 		led_active_color = UIConfigurationBase::instance().color ("generic button: led active");
 	}
 
-	outline_color = UIConfigurationBase::instance().color ("generic button: outline");
-
-
 	/* The inactive color for the LED is just a fairly dark version of the
 	 * active color.
 	 */