diff --git a/kcms/lookandfeel/kcm.cpp b/kcms/lookandfeel/kcm.cpp
--- a/kcms/lookandfeel/kcm.cpp
+++ b/kcms/lookandfeel/kcm.cpp
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@
     KConfigGroup configGroup(&m_config, "General");
     configGroup.writeEntry("ColorScheme", scheme);
 
-    KSharedConfigPtr conf = KSharedConfig::openConfig(colorFile);
+    KSharedConfigPtr conf = KSharedConfig::openConfig(colorFile, KSharedConfig::CascadeConfig);
     foreach (const QString &grp, conf->groupList()) {
       KConfigGroup cg(conf, grp);
       KConfigGroup cg2(&m_config, grp);