diff --git a/lib/adminlib.php b/lib/adminlib.php
index 9ce6ad2cb87..ad0bb9ff6c9 100644
--- a/lib/adminlib.php
+++ b/lib/adminlib.php
@@ -8142,6 +8142,11 @@ class admin_setting_configcolourpicker extends admin_setting {
      */
     protected $previewconfig = null;
 
+    /**
+     * Use default when empty.
+     */
+    protected $usedefaultwhenempty = true;
+
     /**
      *
      * @param string $name
@@ -8150,8 +8155,10 @@ class admin_setting_configcolourpicker extends admin_setting {
      * @param string $defaultsetting
      * @param array $previewconfig Array('selector'=>'.some .css .selector','style'=>'backgroundColor');
      */
-    public function __construct($name, $visiblename, $description, $defaultsetting, array $previewconfig=null) {
+    public function __construct($name, $visiblename, $description, $defaultsetting, array $previewconfig = null,
+            $usedefaultwhenempty = true) {
         $this->previewconfig = $previewconfig;
+        $this->usedefaultwhenempty = $usedefaultwhenempty;
         parent::__construct($name, $visiblename, $description, $defaultsetting);
     }
 
@@ -8242,7 +8249,11 @@ class admin_setting_configcolourpicker extends admin_setting {
         } else if (($data == 'transparent') || ($data == 'currentColor') || ($data == 'inherit')) {
             return $data;
         } else if (empty($data)) {
-            return $this->defaultsetting;
+            if ($this->usedefaultwhenempty){
+                return $this->defaultsetting;
+            } else {
+                return '';
+            }
         } else {
             return false;
         }
diff --git a/theme/more/settings.php b/theme/more/settings.php
index 244f3e2a011..8b41c309a87 100644
--- a/theme/more/settings.php
+++ b/theme/more/settings.php
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ if ($ADMIN->fulltree) {
     $title = get_string('textcolor', 'theme_more');
     $description = get_string('textcolor_desc', 'theme_more');
     $default = '#333366';
-    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default);
+    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default, null, false);
     $setting->set_updatedcallback('theme_reset_all_caches');
     $settings->add($setting);
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ if ($ADMIN->fulltree) {
     $title = get_string('linkcolor', 'theme_more');
     $description = get_string('linkcolor_desc', 'theme_more');
     $default = '#FF6500';
-    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default);
+    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default, null, false);
     $setting->set_updatedcallback('theme_reset_all_caches');
     $settings->add($setting);
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ if ($ADMIN->fulltree) {
     $title = get_string('bodybackground', 'theme_more');
     $description = get_string('bodybackground_desc', 'theme_more');
     $default = '';
-    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default);
+    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default, null, false);
     $setting->set_updatedcallback('theme_reset_all_caches');
     $settings->add($setting);
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ if ($ADMIN->fulltree) {
     $title = get_string('contentbackground', 'theme_more');
     $description = get_string('contentbackground_desc', 'theme_more');
     $default = '#FFFFFF';
-    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default);
+    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default, null, false);
     $setting->set_updatedcallback('theme_reset_all_caches');
     $settings->add($setting);
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ if ($ADMIN->fulltree) {
     $title = get_string('secondarybackground', 'theme_more');
     $description = get_string('secondarybackground_desc', 'theme_more');
     $default = '#FFFFFF';
-    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default);
+    $setting = new admin_setting_configcolourpicker($name, $title, $description, $default, null, false);
     $setting->set_updatedcallback('theme_reset_all_caches');
     $settings->add($setting);