diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-theme-classic/src/theme/hooks/useTheme.ts b/packages/docusaurus-theme-classic/src/theme/hooks/useTheme.ts
index aa2669a6d42e..b3a58630bd47 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-theme-classic/src/theme/hooks/useTheme.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-theme-classic/src/theme/hooks/useTheme.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ const storeTheme = (newTheme) => {
 
 const useTheme = (): useThemeReturns => {
   const {
-    colorMode: {disableSwitch = false},
+    colorMode: {disableSwitch, respectPrefersColorScheme},
   } = useThemeConfig();
   const [theme, setTheme] = useState(getInitialTheme);
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ const useTheme = (): useThemeReturns => {
   }, [setTheme]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (disableSwitch) {
+    if (disableSwitch && !respectPrefersColorScheme) {
       return;
     }