diff --git a/aoapplication.cpp b/aoapplication.cpp
index 35259bc2f..707391c46 100644
--- a/aoapplication.cpp
+++ b/aoapplication.cpp
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ void AOApplication::reload_theme()
   current_theme = read_theme();
 }
 
+void AOApplication::set_theme_variant(QString theme_variant)
+{
+  this->theme_variant = theme_variant;
+}
+
 void AOApplication::set_favorite_list()
 {
   favorite_list = read_serverlist_txt();
diff --git a/aoapplication.h b/aoapplication.h
index 138a55dae..383d421ba 100644
--- a/aoapplication.h
+++ b/aoapplication.h
@@ -150,6 +150,8 @@ class AOApplication : public QApplication
   //Overwrites config.ini with new theme
   void write_theme(QString theme);
 
+  //Set the theme variant
+  void set_theme_variant(QString theme_variant);
 
   //Returns the contents of serverlist.txt
   QVector<server_type> read_serverlist_txt();
@@ -268,7 +270,7 @@ class AOApplication : public QApplication
   const int MINOR_VERSION = 8;
 
   QString current_theme = "default";
-  QString theme_variant = "dr2";
+  QString theme_variant = "";
 
   QVector<server_type> server_list;
   QVector<server_type> favorite_list;
diff --git a/courtroom.cpp b/courtroom.cpp
index 810c03e93..102f1001f 100644
--- a/courtroom.cpp
+++ b/courtroom.cpp
@@ -1059,6 +1059,12 @@ void Courtroom::handle_clock(QString time)
   ui_vp_clock->play(string);
 }
 
+void Courtroom::handle_theme_variant(QString theme_variant)
+{
+  ao_app->set_theme_variant(theme_variant);
+  on_reload_theme_clicked();
+}
+
 void Courtroom::set_window_title(QString p_title)
 {
   this->setWindowTitle(p_title);
@@ -2968,6 +2974,19 @@ void Courtroom::on_ooc_return_pressed()
   {
    m_sfx_player->play(ao_app->get_sfx("coinflip"));
   }
+  else if (ooc_message.startsWith("/variant"))
+  {
+    int space_location = ooc_message.indexOf(" ");
+    QString variant;
+
+    if (space_location == -1)
+      variant = "";
+    else
+      variant = ooc_message.mid(space_location+1);
+
+    handle_theme_variant(variant);
+  }
+
   QStringList packet_contents;
   packet_contents.append(ui_ooc_chat_name->text());
   packet_contents.append(ooc_message);
diff --git a/courtroom.h b/courtroom.h
index 5740d9b72..3c0222371 100644
--- a/courtroom.h
+++ b/courtroom.h
@@ -184,6 +184,9 @@ class Courtroom : public QMainWindow
   //handle server-side clock animation and display
   void handle_clock(QString time);
 
+  //handle request to change theme variant
+  void handle_theme_variant(QString theme_variant);
+
   void play_preanim();
 
   QString parse_message(QString message);
diff --git a/packet_distribution.cpp b/packet_distribution.cpp
index a428a7fde..5e1312f45 100644
--- a/packet_distribution.cpp
+++ b/packet_distribution.cpp
@@ -665,6 +665,13 @@ void AOApplication::server_packet_received(AOPacket *p_packet)
   {
     w_courtroom->handle_clock(f_contents.at(1));
   }
+  else if (header == "VA")
+  {
+    if (courtroom_constructed)
+    {
+      w_courtroom->handle_theme_variant(f_contents.at(0));
+    }
+  }
 
   end: