diff --git a/javascripts/discourse/initializers/category-icons.js b/javascripts/discourse/initializers/category-icons.js
index 127c038..c80baf2 100644
--- a/javascripts/discourse/initializers/category-icons.js
+++ b/javascripts/discourse/initializers/category-icons.js
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ export default {
         categoryThemeList.forEach((str) => {
           const [slug, icon, color, match] = str.split(",");
 
-          if (slug && icon && color) {
+          if (slug && icon) {
             const category = site.categories.find((cat) => {
               if (match === "partial") {
                 return cat.slug.toLowerCase().includes(slug.toLowerCase());
@@ -186,9 +186,10 @@ export default {
                 categoryId: category.id,
                 prefixType: "icon",
                 prefixValue: icon,
+                prefixColor: color ? color : category.color,
               };
 
-              if (!color.match(/categoryColo(u*)r/g)) {
+              if (color && !color.match(/categoryColo(u*)r/g)) {
                 opts.prefixColor = color.replace(/^#/, "");
               }
 
diff --git a/settings.yml b/settings.yml
index 16dacfe..b6f49c9 100644
--- a/settings.yml
+++ b/settings.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ category_icon_list:
   default: "help,question-circle,#CC0000,partial|"
   type: "list"
   list_type: "simple"
-  description: 'Enter comma-delimited configuration for categories, in the format "slug,icon,color,match". Colour in format #123456 or "categoryColor" to use the default color for the category (same as the Badge color). If  match is "partial" then the slug need only partially match the category-slug, otherwise an exact match is required'
+  description: 'Enter comma-delimited configuration for categories, in the format "slug,icon,color,match". Color can be in hex format (#123456) or left blank, then the default color for the category is used (same as the Badge color). If  match is "partial" then the slug need only partially match the category-slug, otherwise an exact match is required'
 svg_icons:
   default: "question-circle"
   type: "list"