diff --git a/variables.less b/variables.less
index f7286c69ab6e..cd46c9ef87c3 100644
--- a/variables.less
+++ b/variables.less
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@
 @border-radius-large:            6px;
 @border-radius-small:            3px;
 
+@component-active-color:         #fff;
 @component-active-bg:            @brand-primary;
 
 @caret-width-base:               4px;
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@
 @dropdown-link-hover-color:      darken(@gray-dark, 5%);
 @dropdown-link-hover-bg:         #f5f5f5;
 
-@dropdown-link-active-color:     #fff;
+@dropdown-link-active-color:     @component-active-color;
 @dropdown-link-active-bg:        @component-active-bg;
 
 @dropdown-link-disabled-color:   @gray-light;