diff --git a/Sources/Update/UpdateTitlebarAccessory.swift b/Sources/Update/UpdateTitlebarAccessory.swift
index 84ac40d3aeb4..3900ab7dfa64 100644
--- a/Sources/Update/UpdateTitlebarAccessory.swift
+++ b/Sources/Update/UpdateTitlebarAccessory.swift
@@ -479,11 +479,27 @@ struct TitlebarControlsView: View {
             .background(ShortcutHintPillBackground())
     }
 
+    private var iconForegroundColor: Color? {
+        let sidebarVisible = AppDelegate.shared?.sidebarState?.isVisible ?? false
+        guard !sidebarVisible else { return nil }
+        let bg = GhosttyApp.shared.defaultBackgroundColor
+        return bg.isLightColor
+            ? Color.black.opacity(0.55)
+            : Color.white.opacity(0.65)
+    }
+
     @ViewBuilder
     private func iconLabel(systemName: String, config: TitlebarControlsStyleConfig) -> some View {
-        let icon = Image(systemName: systemName)
+        let baseIcon = Image(systemName: systemName)
             .font(.system(size: config.iconSize, weight: .semibold))
             .frame(width: config.buttonSize, height: config.buttonSize)
+        let icon = Group {
+            if let color = iconForegroundColor {
+                baseIcon.foregroundColor(color)
+            } else {
+                baseIcon
+            }
+        }
 
         if config.buttonBackground {
             icon