diff --git a/nix-system-configs/modules/styling/forgejo/header.tmpl b/nix-system-configs/modules/styling/forgejo/header.tmpl
index 425ddb0..007fdb6 100644
--- a/nix-system-configs/modules/styling/forgejo/header.tmpl
+++ b/nix-system-configs/modules/styling/forgejo/header.tmpl
@@ -16,3 +16,6 @@ code, pre, kbd, tt, samp, .ui code, .ui pre, .monospace {
   font-family: 'Maple Mono NF', ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, Menlo, Monaco, "Segoe UI Mono", Roboto Mono, "Courier New", monospace !important;
 }
 </style>
+
+<!-- Load the custom theme CSS (served from $FORGEJO_CUSTOM/public/assets/css) -->
+<link rel="stylesheet" href="{{AppSubUrl}}/assets/css/theme-custom.css">
diff --git a/nix-system-configs/modules/system/forgejo.nix b/nix-system-configs/modules/system/forgejo.nix
index 692c962..1b523a4 100644
--- a/nix-system-configs/modules/system/forgejo.nix
+++ b/nix-system-configs/modules/system/forgejo.nix
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ in {
       "d '${config.services.forgejo.customDir}/public/assets' - forgejo forgejo - -"
       # ensure fonts directory exists
       "d '${config.services.forgejo.customDir}/public/assets/fonts' - forgejo forgejo - -"
+      # ensure css directory exists so we can place theme css
+      "d '${config.services.forgejo.customDir}/public/assets/css' - forgejo forgejo - -"
       # install the TTF from the Nix store into the Forgejo customDir
       "C+ '${config.services.forgejo.customDir}/public/assets/fonts/MapleMonoNerd.ttf' - forgejo forgejo - ${mapleFonts}/fonts/MapleMonoNerd.ttf"
       "C+ '${config.services.forgejo.customDir}/templates/home.tmpl' - forgejo forgejo - ${
@@ -144,6 +146,10 @@ in {
       "C+ '${config.services.forgejo.customDir}/templates/custom/header.tmpl' - forgejo forgejo - ${
         ../styling/forgejo/header.tmpl
       }"
+      # copy your theme CSS into the public assets so Forgejo serves it directly
+      "C+ '${config.services.forgejo.customDir}/public/assets/css/theme-custom.css' - forgejo forgejo - ${
+        ../styling/forgejo/theme-custom.css
+      }"
     ];
 
     # Open ports in the firewall.