diff --git a/src/app/core.rs b/src/app/core.rs
index 65cbda13..4fa48953 100644
--- a/src/app/core.rs
+++ b/src/app/core.rs
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ pub struct Core {
     /// Enables debug features in cosmic/iced.
     pub debug: bool,
 
+    /// Disables loading the icon theme from cosmic-config.
+    pub(super) icon_theme_override: bool,
+
     /// Whether the window is too small for the nav bar + main content.
     is_condensed: bool,
 
@@ -95,6 +98,7 @@ impl Default for Core {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
             debug: false,
+            icon_theme_override: false,
             is_condensed: false,
             keyboard_nav: true,
             nav_bar: NavBar {
diff --git a/src/app/cosmic.rs b/src/app/cosmic.rs
index 09c2d8c5..ae7429df 100644
--- a/src/app/cosmic.rs
+++ b/src/app/cosmic.rs
@@ -563,6 +563,13 @@ impl<T: Application> Cosmic<T> {
             }
 
             Message::ToolkitConfig(config) => {
+                // Change the icon theme if not defined by the application.
+                if !self.app.core().icon_theme_override
+                    && crate::icon_theme::default() != config.icon_theme
+                {
+                    crate::icon_theme::set_default(config.icon_theme.clone());
+                }
+
                 self.app.core_mut().toolkit_config = config;
             }
 
diff --git a/src/app/mod.rs b/src/app/mod.rs
index 3e015395..aa33515f 100644
--- a/src/app/mod.rs
+++ b/src/app/mod.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ pub mod message {
 pub use self::command::Command;
 pub use self::core::Core;
 pub use self::settings::Settings;
+use crate::config::CosmicTk;
 use crate::prelude::*;
 use crate::theme::THEME;
 use crate::widget::{context_drawer, nav_bar, popover};
@@ -66,16 +67,19 @@ pub(crate) fn iced_settings<App: Application>(
     settings: Settings,
     flags: App::Flags,
 ) -> iced::Settings<(Core, App::Flags)> {
-    if let Some(icon_theme) = settings.default_icon_theme {
-        crate::icon_theme::set_default(icon_theme);
-    }
-
     let mut core = Core::default();
     core.debug = settings.debug;
+    core.icon_theme_override = settings.default_icon_theme.is_some();
     core.set_scale_factor(settings.scale_factor);
     core.set_window_width(settings.size.width as u32);
     core.set_window_height(settings.size.height as u32);
 
+    if let Some(icon_theme) = settings.default_icon_theme {
+        crate::icon_theme::set_default(icon_theme);
+    } else {
+        crate::icon_theme::set_default(core.toolkit_config.icon_theme.clone());
+    }
+
     THEME.with(move |t| {
         let mut cosmic_theme = t.borrow_mut();
         cosmic_theme.set_theme(settings.theme.theme_type);
diff --git a/src/app/settings.rs b/src/app/settings.rs
index 48bdd729..5b27f9ae 100644
--- a/src/app/settings.rs
+++ b/src/app/settings.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ impl Default for Settings {
             client_decorations: true,
             debug: false,
             default_font: font::FONT,
-            default_icon_theme: Some(String::from("Cosmic")),
+            default_icon_theme: None,
             default_text_size: 14.0,
             resizable: Some(8.0),
             scale_factor: std::env::var("COSMIC_SCALE")
diff --git a/src/config/toolkit.rs b/src/config/toolkit.rs
index 56395d56..996bd2ab 100644
--- a/src/config/toolkit.rs
+++ b/src/config/toolkit.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ pub struct CosmicTk {
 
     /// Show maximize button in window header.
     pub show_maximize: bool,
+
+    /// Preferred icon theme
+    pub icon_theme: String,
 }
 
 impl Default for CosmicTk {
@@ -24,6 +27,7 @@ impl Default for CosmicTk {
         Self {
             show_minimize: true,
             show_maximize: true,
+            icon_theme: String::from("Cosmic"),
         }
     }
 }