diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/laf/PdeMenuItemUI.java b/app/src/processing/app/laf/PdeMenuItemUI.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9cc00b2e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/laf/PdeMenuItemUI.java
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package processing.app.laf;
+
+import processing.app.ui.Theme;
+
+import javax.swing.plaf.basic.BasicMenuItemUI;
+import java.awt.Color;
+
+
+public class PdeMenuItemUI extends BasicMenuItemUI {
+  final String prefix;
+
+  Color enabledFgColor;
+  Color enabledBgColor;
+  Color disabledFgColor;
+  Color disabledBgColor;
+  Color selectedFgColor;
+  Color selectedBgColor;
+
+
+  public PdeMenuItemUI(String prefix) {
+    this.prefix = prefix;
+  }
+
+
+  public void updateTheme() {
+    enabledFgColor = Theme.getColor(prefix + ".enabled.fgcolor");
+    enabledBgColor = Theme.getColor(prefix + ".enabled.bgcolor");
+    disabledFgColor = Theme.getColor(prefix + ".disabled.fgcolor");
+    disabledBgColor = Theme.getColor(prefix + ".disabled.bgcolor");
+    selectedFgColor = Theme.getColor(prefix + ".selected.fgcolor");
+    selectedBgColor = Theme.getColor(prefix + ".selected.bgcolor");
+
+    // when drawing, this will be overridden when disabled or selected
+    menuItem.setForeground(enabledFgColor);
+
+    acceleratorForeground = enabledFgColor;
+    acceleratorSelectionForeground = selectedFgColor;
+    selectionBackground = selectedBgColor;
+    selectionForeground = selectedFgColor;
+    disabledForeground = disabledFgColor;
+  }
+}
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