diff --git a/bashscripts/wsl_theme.sh b/bashscripts/wsl_theme.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51eba02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bashscripts/wsl_theme.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+color_scheme=$1
+
+# write a file with the current theme here:
+nvim_color_theme_path=~/.local/share/nvim_color_scheme
+
+# validate user input
+if [[ "$color_scheme" != "dark" && "$color_scheme" != "light" ]]; then
+  echo "Error: Color scheme must be 'dark' or 'light'" >&2
+  exit 1
+else
+  echo $color_scheme > $nvim_color_theme_path
+fi
+
+# check that all relevant files exist
+windows_username=$(powershell.exe '$env:UserName' | tr -d '\r\n')
+dark_mode_config_path=~/python-projects/24_alacritty_windows_setup/gruvbox_material_medium_dark.toml
+light_mode_config_path=~/python-projects/24_alacritty_windows_setup/gruvbox_material_medium_light.toml
+if [ ! -f $light_mode_config_path ]; then
+  echo "error: light_mode_config_path missing"
+  echo "expected: $light_mode_config_path"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ ! -f $dark_mode_config_path ]; then
+  echo "error: dark_mode_config_path missing"
+  echo "expected: $dark_mode_config_path"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+windows_alacritty_config_path="/mnt/c/Users/${windows_username}/AppData/Roaming/alacritty/alacritty.toml"
+echo 'overwriting windows alacritty config' 
+
+if [ $color_scheme = 'dark' ]; then
+  echo "going dark"
+  cp $dark_mode_config_path $windows_alacritty_config_path
+
+  # explorer, browser etc
+  powershell.exe -Command "Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 0"
+  # taskbar and start menu
+  powershell.exe -Command "Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 0"
+fi
+
+if [ $color_scheme = 'light' ]; then
+  echo "going light"
+  cp $light_mode_config_path $windows_alacritty_config_path
+
+  # explorer, browser etc
+  powershell.exe -Command "Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 1"
+  # taskbar and start menu
+  powershell.exe -Command "Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 1"
+fi
+
diff --git a/nixos/neovim.nix b/nixos/neovim.nix
index f4e77c5..0eda250 100644
--- a/nixos/neovim.nix
+++ b/nixos/neovim.nix
@@ -13,20 +13,24 @@
         set nohlsearch
 
         lua << EOF
-          local hkey_current_user_path = 'HKCU:\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Themes\\Personalize'
-          local ps_cmd = 'Get-ItemProperty -Path ' .. hkey_current_user_path .. ' -Name AppsUseLightTheme'
-          local parent_cmd = 'powershell.exe -Command "' .. ps_cmd .. '"'
-          local handle = io.popen(parent_cmd)
-          local result = handle:read("*a")
-          handle:close()
-          local apps_use_light_theme = string.match(result, "AppsUseLightTheme%s*:%s*(%d+)")
-          local use_dark_bg = apps_use_light_theme == '0'
-          print('use dark:', use_dark_bg)
-
-          if use_dark_bg then
-            vim.cmd("set bg=dark")
-          else
-            vim.cmd("set bg=light")
+          local config_file = os.getenv("HOME")..'/.local/share/nvim_color_scheme'
+          local f=io.open(config_file, "r")
+          if f~=nil then 
+              local system_theme = f:read()
+              -- f:close()
+              io.close(f)
+              if system_theme == 'dark' then
+                  vim.cmd("set bg=dark")
+              elseif system_theme == 'light' then
+                  vim.cmd("set bg=light")
+              else
+                  print('warning: expected value "light" or "dark"')
+                  print('  got:', system_theme)
+                  print('  expected path:', file)
+              end
+          else 
+              print('warning: nvim color scheme not found')
+              print('  expected path:', file)
           end
         EOF