diff --git a/cosmic-theme/src/output/qt56ct_output.rs b/cosmic-theme/src/output/qt56ct_output.rs
index 7a6e9895..eccfc846 100644
--- a/cosmic-theme/src/output/qt56ct_output.rs
+++ b/cosmic-theme/src/output/qt56ct_output.rs
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ impl Theme {
             base: self.background.component.base,
             window: self.background.base,
             shadow: darkest,
-            highlight: self.background.component.selected,
-            highlighted_text: self.background.component.selected_text,
+            // selection colors are swapped to fix menu bar contrast
+            highlight: self.background.component.selected_text,
+            highlighted_text: self.background.component.selected,
             link: self.link_button.on,
             link_visited: self.link_button.on.mix(self.secondary.component.base, 0.2),
             alternate_base: self.background.base.mix(self.accent.base, 0.05),
diff --git a/cosmic-theme/src/output/qt_output.rs b/cosmic-theme/src/output/qt_output.rs
index 7acacdf4..86f7ac13 100644
--- a/cosmic-theme/src/output/qt_output.rs
+++ b/cosmic-theme/src/output/qt_output.rs
@@ -65,8 +65,9 @@ impl Theme {
 
         // selected text and items
         let selection_colors = {
-            let selected = self.background.component.selected;
-            let selected_text = self.background.component.selected_text;
+            // selection colors are swapped to fix menu bar contrast
+            let selected = self.background.component.selected_text;
+            let selected_text = self.background.component.selected;
             IniColors {
                 background_alternate: selected.mix(bg, 0.5),
                 background_normal: selected,