diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/Xaml.UnitTests/Issues/Maui16960.xaml b/src/Controls/tests/Xaml.UnitTests/Issues/Maui16960.xaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..31db5b0230c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Controls/tests/Xaml.UnitTests/Issues/Maui16960.xaml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
+             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
+             xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Microsoft.Maui.Controls.Xaml.UnitTests"
+             x:Class="Microsoft.Maui.Controls.Xaml.UnitTests.Maui16960">
+  <ContentPage.Resources>
+    <Style TargetType="Button">
+      <Setter Property="VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups">
+        <Setter.Value>
+          <VisualStateGroupList>
+            <VisualStateGroup>
+              <VisualState x:Name="Normal" />
+              <VisualState x:Name="Pressed">
+                <VisualState.Setters>
+                  <Setter Property="BackgroundColor"
+                          Value="{AppThemeBinding Light=Yellow, Dark=Orange}" />
+                </VisualState.Setters>
+              </VisualState>
+              <VisualState x:Name="PointerOver">
+                <VisualState.Setters>
+                  <Setter Property="BackgroundColor"
+                          Value="Red" />
+                </VisualState.Setters>
+              </VisualState>
+            </VisualStateGroup>
+          </VisualStateGroupList>
+        </Setter.Value>
+      </Setter>
+    </Style>
+  </ContentPage.Resources>
+
+
+<Button x:Name="button"/>
+
+
+</ContentPage>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/Xaml.UnitTests/Issues/Maui16960.xaml.cs b/src/Controls/tests/Xaml.UnitTests/Issues/Maui16960.xaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..76d2039460db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Controls/tests/Xaml.UnitTests/Issues/Maui16960.xaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+using Microsoft.Maui.ApplicationModel;
+using Microsoft.Maui.Controls.Core.UnitTests;
+using Microsoft.Maui.Controls.Shapes;
+using Microsoft.Maui.Devices;
+using Microsoft.Maui.Graphics;
+using Microsoft.Maui.Dispatching;
+
+
+using NUnit.Framework;
+using Microsoft.Maui.UnitTests;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Maui.Controls.Xaml.UnitTests;
+
+public partial class Maui16960
+{
+
+	public Maui16960() => InitializeComponent();
+
+	public Maui16960(bool useCompiledXaml)
+	{
+		//this stub will be replaced at compile time
+	}
+
+	[TestFixture]
+	class Test
+	{
+		[SetUp]
+		public void Setup()
+		{
+			Application.SetCurrentApplication(new MockApplication());
+			DispatcherProvider.SetCurrent(new DispatcherProviderStub());
+		}
+
+
+		[TearDown] public void TearDown() => AppInfo.SetCurrent(null);
+
+		[Test]
+		public void VSMandAppTheme([Values(false, true)] bool useCompiledXaml)
+		{
+
+			Application.Current.UserAppTheme = AppTheme.Light;
+
+			var page = new Maui16960(useCompiledXaml);
+			Button button = page.button;
+			Assert.That(button.BackgroundColor, Is.Null);
+
+			VisualStateManager.GoToState(button, "PointerOver");
+			Assert.That(button.BackgroundColor, Is.EqualTo(Colors.Red));
+
+			VisualStateManager.GoToState(button, "Pressed");
+			Assert.That(button.BackgroundColor, Is.EqualTo(Colors.Yellow));
+
+			VisualStateManager.GoToState(button, "Normal");
+			Assert.That(button.BackgroundColor, Is.Null);
+
+			VisualStateManager.GoToState(button, "PointerOver");
+			Assert.That(button.BackgroundColor, Is.EqualTo(Colors.Red));
+
+
+		}
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file