diff --git a/extensions/theme-defaults/themes/hc_light.json b/extensions/theme-defaults/themes/hc_light.json
index ff18f754dcb..3173cd782c9 100644
--- a/extensions/theme-defaults/themes/hc_light.json
+++ b/extensions/theme-defaults/themes/hc_light.json
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@
 		"editorGroupHeader.noTabsBackground": "#ffffff",
 		"editorGroupHeader.tabsBackground": "#ffffff",
 		"editorGroupHeader.tabsBorder": "#0000",
-		"editorGroup.emptyBackground": "#ffffff",
 		"editorGroup.focusedEmptyBorder": "#0F4A85",
 		"tab.activeBackground": "#ffffff",
 		"tab.unfocusedActiveBackground": "#ffffff",
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/watermark/browser/media/watermark.css b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/watermark/browser/media/watermark.css
index aa84eaefc72..909e2b692e0 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/watermark/browser/media/watermark.css
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/watermark/browser/media/watermark.css
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@
 }
 
 .monaco-workbench.hc-black .part.editor > .content.empty > .watermark dt {
-	color: #FFF;
+	color: var(--vscode-editor-foreground);
 }
 .monaco-workbench.hc-black .part.editor > .content.empty > .watermark dl {
-	color: #FFF;
+	color: var(--vscode-editor-foreground);
 	opacity: 1;
 }