diff --git a/tests/quickshell/lock-screen-helper-contract.sh b/tests/quickshell/lock-screen-helper-contract.sh
index f7aa2ef..5506e5f 100755
--- a/tests/quickshell/lock-screen-helper-contract.sh
+++ b/tests/quickshell/lock-screen-helper-contract.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ test_bin="$fixture/bin"
 settings="$config_home/panama/settings.json"
 generated="$state_home/panama/hyprlock.conf"
 hyprlock_log="$fixture/hyprlock.log"
+theme_helper="$repo_dir/config/dot/quickshell/scripts/panama-theme-apps"
 
 fail() {
     printf 'lock screen helper contract: %s\n' "$1" >&2
@@ -27,7 +28,12 @@ trap cleanup EXIT
 
 mkdir -p "$fixture_home/Pictures/Wallpapers" "$config_home/panama" \
     "$config_home/hypr" "$state_home" "$test_bin"
-cp "$repo_dir/config/dot/hypr/hyprlock.conf" "$config_home/hypr/hyprlock.conf"
+cp "$repo_dir/config/dot/hypr/hyprlock.conf.template" \
+    "$config_home/hypr/hyprlock.conf.template"
+HOME="$fixture_home" XDG_CONFIG_HOME="$config_home" \
+    "$theme_helper" dark >/dev/null
+[[ -s "$config_home/hypr/hyprlock.conf" ]] \
+    || fail 'the themed fallback renderer did not create hyprlock.conf'
 
 cat >"$test_bin/hyprctl" <<'EOF'
 #!/usr/bin/env bash