diff --git a/bin/solarize b/bin/solarize
index 3d92f81..9f71e8e 100755
--- a/bin/solarize
+++ b/bin/solarize
@@ -128,11 +128,6 @@ main() {
         tmux set-environment -g BACKGROUND "$BACKGROUND"
         tmux source-file "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/tmux/tmux-colors.conf"
     fi
-
-    ls_colors="$HOME/.config/dircolors/solarized-$BACKGROUND"
-    if type dircolors >/dev/null && [ -f "$ls_colors" ]; then
-        eval "$(dircolors "$ls_colors")"
-    fi
 }
 
 main
diff --git a/files/bashrc b/files/bashrc
index 2ac615a..637bfc5 100644
--- a/files/bashrc
+++ b/files/bashrc
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export XDG_CACHE_HOME="${XDG_CACHE_HOME:-$HOME/.cache}"
 export XDG_CONFIG_HOME="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}"
 export XDG_DATA_HOME="${XDG_DATA_HOME:-$HOME/.local/share}"
 
-export BACKGROUND="dark"
+export BACKGROUND="${BACKGROUND:-dark}"
 export EDITOR="nvim"
 export INPUTRC="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/readline/inputrc"
 export LANG="en_US.UTF-8"
@@ -75,7 +75,16 @@ if command -v brew >/dev/null 2>&1; then
 fi
 
 stty -ixon # disable ctrl-s and ctrl-q
-command -v solarize >/dev/null && solarize
+
+change_bg() {
+    BACKGROUND="$1";
+    command -v solarize &>/dev/null && solarize;
+
+    local f="$HOME/.config/dircolors/solarized-$BACKGROUND"
+    [ -f "$f" ] && type dircolors &>/dev/null && eval "$(dircolors "$f")"
+}
+export change_bg
+change_bg "$BACKGROUND"
 
 ##############################################################################
 # Customize shell options & variables
@@ -203,8 +212,6 @@ alias light='change_bg light'
 
 mkcd() { mkdir -p -- "$1" && cd -P -- "$1" || return; }
 
-change_bg() { BACKGROUND="$1"; command -v solarize >/dev/null && solarize; }
-
 ##############################################################################
 # Run external customizations
 ##############################################################################