diff --git a/core/src/themes/ionic.theme.default.ios.scss b/core/src/themes/ionic.theme.default.ios.scss
index f82b86bbdf..5cdc0664de 100644
--- a/core/src/themes/ionic.theme.default.ios.scss
+++ b/core/src/themes/ionic.theme.default.ios.scss
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ $toolbar-ios-color-activated:               var(--ion-toolbar-color-activated, i
 // iOS List & List Items
 // --------------------------------------------------
 $item-ios-background:                       var(--ion-item-background, $background-color) !default;
-$item-ios-background-activated:             var(--ion-item-background-activated, #d9d9d9) !default;
+$item-ios-background-activated:             var(--ion-item-background-activated, var(--ion-color-step-150, #d9d9d9)) !default;
 $item-ios-border-color:                     var(--ion-item-border-color, var(--ion-border-color, var(--ion-color-step-150, #c8c7cc))) !default;
 $item-ios-color:                            var(--ion-item-color, $text-color) !default;
diff --git a/core/src/themes/ionic.theme.default.md.scss b/core/src/themes/ionic.theme.default.md.scss
index ce72beb4ec..5d5331595e 100644
--- a/core/src/themes/ionic.theme.default.md.scss
+++ b/core/src/themes/ionic.theme.default.md.scss
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ $toolbar-md-color-activated:                var(--ion-toolbar-color-activated, #
 // Material Design List & List Items
 // --------------------------------------------------
 $item-md-background:                        var(--ion-item-background, $background-color) !default;
-$item-md-background-activated:              var(--ion-item-background-activated, #f1f1f1) !default;
+$item-md-background-activated:              var(--ion-item-background-activated, var(--ion-color-step-50, #f1f1f1)) !default;
 $item-md-border-color:                      var(--ion-item-border-color, var(--ion-border-color, var(--ion-color-step-150, rgba(0, 0, 0, .13)))) !default;
 $item-md-color:                             var(--ion-item-color, $text-color) !default;
diff --git a/core/src/themes/test/css-variables/css/oceanic.css b/core/src/themes/test/css-variables/css/oceanic.css
index 42f1dd37b7..1eb325a1ab 100644
--- a/core/src/themes/test/css-variables/css/oceanic.css
+++ b/core/src/themes/test/css-variables/css/oceanic.css
@@ -90,9 +90,6 @@
   --ion-toolbar-color: #a7adba;
   --ion-toolbar-color-activated: var(--ion-color-primary);
 
-  --ion-item-background: #343d46;
-  --ion-item-background-activated: #232b34;
-
   /* Background, Text, Step Colors */
   --ion-background-color: #1b2b34;
   --ion-background-color-rgb: 27,43,52;