diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
index fb1ca3dad..28fa6acae 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
@@ -763,8 +763,16 @@ impl EditorView {
             let viewport = view.inner_area(doc);
 
             // define sticky context styles
-            let context_style = theme.get("ui.sticky.context");
-            let indicator_style = theme.get("ui.sticky.indicator");
+            let context_style = theme.try_get("ui.sticky.context").unwrap_or(
+                theme
+                    .try_get("ui.statusline")
+                    .expect("`ui.statusline` exists"),
+            );
+            let indicator_style = theme.try_get("ui.sticky.indicator").unwrap_or(
+                theme
+                    .try_get("ui.statusline")
+                    .expect("`ui.statusline` exists"),
+            );
 
             let mut context_area = viewport;
             context_area.height = 1;