diff --git a/.changeset/cute-hornets-tap.md b/.changeset/cute-hornets-tap.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..499d67fd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/cute-hornets-tap.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"shadcn": patch
+---
+
+do not install base style when adding themes
diff --git a/packages/shadcn/src/commands/add.ts b/packages/shadcn/src/commands/add.ts
index 27a8c58d0..0c9850897 100644
--- a/packages/shadcn/src/commands/add.ts
+++ b/packages/shadcn/src/commands/add.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { preFlightAdd } from "@/src/preflights/preflight-add"
 import { getRegistryItems, getShadcnRegistryIndex } from "@/src/registry/api"
 import { DEPRECATED_COMPONENTS } from "@/src/registry/constants"
 import { clearRegistryContext } from "@/src/registry/context"
+import { registryItemTypeSchema } from "@/src/registry/schema"
 import { isUniversalRegistryItem } from "@/src/registry/utils"
 import { addComponents } from "@/src/utils/add-components"
 import { createProject } from "@/src/utils/create-project"
@@ -88,11 +89,12 @@ export const add = new Command()
         hasNewRegistries = newRegistries.length > 0
       }
 
+      let itemType: z.infer<typeof registryItemTypeSchema> | undefined
       if (components.length > 0) {
         const [registryItem] = await getRegistryItems([components[0]], {
           config: initialConfig,
         })
-        const itemType = registryItem?.type
+        itemType = registryItem?.type
 
         if (isUniversalRegistryItem(registryItem)) {
           await addComponents(components, initialConfig, options)
@@ -172,7 +174,7 @@ export const add = new Command()
           isNewProject: false,
           srcDir: options.srcDir,
           cssVariables: options.cssVariables,
-          baseStyle: true,
+          baseStyle: itemType !== "registry:theme",
           components: options.components,
         })
         initHasRun = true
@@ -207,7 +209,7 @@ export const add = new Command()
             isNewProject: true,
             srcDir: options.srcDir,
             cssVariables: options.cssVariables,
-            baseStyle: true,
+            baseStyle: itemType !== "registry:theme",
             components: options.components,
           })
           initHasRun = true
@@ -234,7 +236,10 @@ export const add = new Command()
       config = updatedConfig
 
       if (!initHasRun) {
-        await addComponents(options.components, config, options)
+        await addComponents(options.components, config, {
+          ...options,
+          baseStyle: itemType !== "registry:theme",
+        })
       }
 
       // If we're adding a single component and it's from the v0 registry,