diff --git a/res/css/views/rooms/_EventTile.pcss b/res/css/views/rooms/_EventTile.pcss
index d405381db1..5eb1d221a5 100644
--- a/res/css/views/rooms/_EventTile.pcss
+++ b/res/css/views/rooms/_EventTile.pcss
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ $left-gutter: 64px;
 
     &.mx_EventTile_e2eIcon_normal::after {
         mask-image: url("$(res)/img/e2e/normal.svg"); /* regular shield */
-        background-color: var(--cpd-color-icon-tertiary); /* grey */
+        background-color: var(--cpd-color-icon-tertiary, grey);
     }
 
     &.mx_EventTile_e2eIcon_decryption_failure::after {