diff --git a/apps/i2ptunnel/java/src/net/i2p/i2ptunnel/web/IndexBean.java b/apps/i2ptunnel/java/src/net/i2p/i2ptunnel/web/IndexBean.java
index 48bb984b6..53ed82749 100644
--- a/apps/i2ptunnel/java/src/net/i2p/i2ptunnel/web/IndexBean.java
+++ b/apps/i2ptunnel/java/src/net/i2p/i2ptunnel/web/IndexBean.java
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ public class IndexBean {
     static final String CLIENT_NICKNAME = "shared clients";
     
     public static final String PROP_THEME_NAME = "routerconsole.theme";
+    public static final String DEFAULT_THEME = "light";
     public static final String PROP_CSS_DISABLED = "routerconsole.css.disabled";
     public static final String PROP_JS_DISABLED = "routerconsole.javascript.disabled";
     
@@ -319,11 +320,8 @@ public class IndexBean {
     ////
     
     public String getTheme() {
-    	String theme = _context.getProperty(PROP_THEME_NAME);
-    	if (theme != null)
-    		return "/themes/console/" + theme + "/";
-    	else
-    		return "/themes/console/";
+    	String theme = _context.getProperty(PROP_THEME_NAME, DEFAULT_THEME);
+	return "/themes/console/" + theme + "/";
     }
 
     public boolean allowCSS() {
diff --git a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/CSSHelper.java b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/CSSHelper.java
index 6b3916883..a2f3341f9 100644
--- a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/CSSHelper.java
+++ b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/CSSHelper.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ public class CSSHelper extends HelperBase {
     public CSSHelper() {}
     
     public static final String PROP_THEME_NAME = "routerconsole.theme";
+    public static final String DEFAULT_THEME = "light";
     private static final String BASE = "/themes/console/";
     private static final String FORCE = "classic";
 
@@ -16,9 +17,8 @@ public class CSSHelper extends HelperBase {
         if (userAgent != null && userAgent.contains("MSIE")) {
             url += FORCE + "/";
         } else {
-            String theme = _context.getProperty(PROP_THEME_NAME);
-            if (theme != null)
-                url += theme + "/";
+            String theme = _context.getProperty(PROP_THEME_NAME, DEFAULT_THEME);
+            url += theme + "/";
         }
         return url;
     }
diff --git a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/ConfigUIHelper.java b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/ConfigUIHelper.java
index 0e0b36a28..9bfd22077 100644
--- a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/ConfigUIHelper.java
+++ b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/ConfigUIHelper.java
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@ package net.i2p.router.web;
 public class ConfigUIHelper extends HelperBase {
     public ConfigUIHelper() {}
     
-    public static final String PROP_THEME = "routerconsole.theme";
     private static final String themes[] = {"classic", "dark", "light"};
 
     public String getSettings() {
         StringBuilder buf = new StringBuilder(512);
-        String current = _context.getProperty(PROP_THEME, "default");
+        String current = _context.getProperty(CSSHelper.PROP_THEME_NAME, CSSHelper.DEFAULT_THEME);
         for (String theme : themes) {
             buf.append("<input type=\"radio\" name=\"theme\" ");
             if (theme.equals(current))
diff --git a/history.txt b/history.txt
index 4cf10f0b7..c2ec1c391 100644
--- a/history.txt
+++ b/history.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 2009-07-15 zzz
-    * Console: Convert readme_zh.html from GB2312 to UTF-8
+    * Console:
+      - Make light the default theme
+      - Convert readme_zh.html from GB2312 to UTF-8
     * Installer: Don't launch the router from the postinstall.sh script
       on linux anymore; add a panel to the installer to provide launch instructions.
 
diff --git a/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/RouterVersion.java b/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/RouterVersion.java
index 217d41d54..3e5e8985d 100644
--- a/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/RouterVersion.java
+++ b/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/RouterVersion.java
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ public class RouterVersion {
     /** deprecated */
     public final static String ID = "Monotone";
     public final static String VERSION = CoreVersion.VERSION;
-    public final static long BUILD = 11;
+    public final static long BUILD = 12;
     /** for example "-test" */
     public final static String EXTRA = "";
     public final static String FULL_VERSION = VERSION + "-" + BUILD + EXTRA;