diff --git a/modules/programs/helix.nix b/modules/programs/helix.nix
index e0befbbd25f3..86a17a3530ea 100644
--- a/modules/programs/helix.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/helix.nix
@@ -252,12 +252,12 @@ in
           n: v:
           lib.nameValuePair "helix/themes/${n}.toml" {
             source =
-              if lib.isAttrs v then
-                tomlFormat.generate "helix-theme-${n}" v
-              else if builtins.isPath cfg.style || lib.isStorePath cfg.style then
-                cfg.style
+              if lib.isString v then
+                pkgs.writeText "helix-theme-${n}" v
+              else if builtins.isPath v || lib.isStorePath v then
+                v
               else
-                pkgs.writeText "helix-theme-${n}" v;
+                tomlFormat.generate "helix-theme-${n}" v;
           }
         ) cfg.themes;
       in
diff --git a/tests/modules/programs/helix/example-settings.nix b/tests/modules/programs/helix/example-settings.nix
index 9ccb4fd327ec..c8dd1d8e854d 100644
--- a/tests/modules/programs/helix/example-settings.nix
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/helix/example-settings.nix
@@ -147,6 +147,83 @@
           "warning" = yellow;
           "error" = red;
         };
+      string = ''
+        attributes = "#fabd2f"
+        constant = "#fe8019"
+        "constant.character.escape" = "#8ec07c"
+        "constant.numeric" = "#fe8019"
+        constructor = "#83a598"
+        debug = "#3c3836"
+        "diff.delta" = "#fabd2f"
+        "diff.minus" = "#fb4934"
+        "diff.plus" = "#b8bb26"
+        error = "#fb4934"
+        function = "#83a598"
+        hint = "#3c3836"
+        info = "#83a598"
+        keyword = "#d3869b"
+        label = "#d3869b"
+        namespace = "#83a598"
+        special = "#83a598"
+        string = "#b8bb26"
+        type = "#fabd2f"
+        "ui.menu" = "none"
+        variable = "#fb4934"
+        "variable.builtin" = "#fe8019"
+        "variable.other.member" = "#fb4934"
+        warning = "#fabd2f"
+
+        [comment]
+        fg = "#665c54"
+
+        [diagnostic]
+        modifiers = ["underlined"]
+
+        ["ui.cursor"]
+        modifiers = ["reversed"]
+
+        ["ui.cursor.match"]
+        fg = "#fabd2f"
+        modifiers = ["underlined"]
+
+        ["ui.gutter"]
+        bg = "#282828"
+
+        ["ui.help"]
+        bg = "#fbf1c7"
+        fg = "#3c3836"
+
+        ["ui.linenr"]
+        bg = "#3c3836"
+        fg = "#665c54"
+
+        ["ui.linenr.selected"]
+        bg = "#282828"
+        fg = "#fbf1c7"
+        modifiers = ["bold"]
+
+        ["ui.menu.selected"]
+        modifiers = ["reversed"]
+
+        ["ui.popup"]
+        modifiers = ["reversed"]
+
+        ["ui.selection"]
+        bg = "#83a598"
+        fg = "#282828"
+
+        ["ui.selection.primary"]
+        modifiers = ["reversed"]
+
+        ["ui.statusline"]
+        bg = "#3c3836"
+        fg = "#fbf1c7"
+
+        ["ui.statusline.inactive"]
+        bg = "#fbf1c7"
+        fg = "#3c3836"
+      '';
+      path = ./theme-base16-expected.toml;
     };
   };
 
@@ -163,5 +240,11 @@
     assertFileContent \
       home-files/.config/helix/themes/base16.toml \
       ${./theme-base16-expected.toml}
+    assertFileContent \
+      home-files/.config/helix/themes/string.toml \
+      ${./theme-base16-expected.toml}
+    assertFileContent \
+      home-files/.config/helix/themes/path.toml \
+      ${./theme-base16-expected.toml}
   '';
 }