diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0b863c8..eb77105 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,22 @@ Format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 ---
 
+## [0.9.5] — 2026-05-08
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Theme: dark/explicit themes show correct page background** — `index.html` inline style
+  set `html, body { background: #eaeff8 }` hardcoded. `body` paints on top of `html`, so
+  even when `html { background: var(--color-surface) }` correctly resolved to `#16202e` in
+  dark mode, the body's hardcoded light background covered it — producing dark cards on a
+  light page. Fixed by: (1) removing body background from the inline style; (2) adding a
+  tiny blocking `<script>` that reads `cf-theme` / `cf-hacker-mode` from localStorage and
+  sets `data-theme` on `<html>` before first paint; (3) adding
+  `html[data-theme="dark"|"solarized-dark"|"hacker"]` rules so FOUT prevention fires the
+  right background immediately on load.
+
+---
+
 ## [0.9.4] — 2026-05-08
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/web/index.html b/web/index.html
index c62e5f6..6e38022 100644
--- a/web/index.html
+++ b/web/index.html
@@ -5,11 +5,18 @@
     <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="/favicon.svg" />
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
     <title>Peregrine — Job Search Assistant</title>
-    <!-- Inline background prevents blank flash before CSS bundle loads -->
-    <!-- Matches --color-surface light / dark from theme.css -->
+    <!-- Apply stored theme before first paint — prevents FOUT flash on dark/hacker themes.
+         Mirrors the logic in useTheme.initTheme(). Must run before the <style> below. -->
+    <script>try{if(localStorage.getItem('cf-hacker-mode')==='true'){document.documentElement.dataset.theme='hacker';}else{var t=localStorage.getItem('cf-theme');if(t&&t!=='auto')document.documentElement.dataset.theme=t;}}catch(e){}</script>
+    <!-- FOUT prevention: background only on html (body is transparent).
+         Covers auto mode (media query) and all explicit theme choices. -->
     <style>
-      html, body { margin: 0; background: #eaeff8; min-height: 100vh; }
-      @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) { html, body { background: #16202e; } }
+      html, body { margin: 0; min-height: 100vh; }
+      html { background: #eaeff8; }
+      @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) { html:not([data-theme]) { background: #16202e; } }
+      html[data-theme="dark"]          { background: #16202e; }
+      html[data-theme="solarized-dark"] { background: #002b36; }
+      html[data-theme="hacker"]        { background: #0a0c0a; }
     </style>
     <!-- Plausible analytics: cookie-free, GDPR-compliant, self-hosted.
          Skips localhost/127.0.0.1. Reports to hostname + circuitforge.tech rollup. -->
