diff --git a/mdm/login.c b/mdm/login.c
index e4c14d8..544ca36 100644
--- a/mdm/login.c
+++ b/mdm/login.c
@@ -188,7 +188,9 @@ void login_window(void) {
 
 	MwLibraryInit();
 
-	root = MwCreateWidget(NULL, "root", NULL, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+	root = MwVaCreateWidget(NULL, "root", NULL, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+				MwNmodernLook, 0,
+				NULL);
 
 	window	  = MwVaCreateWidget(MwWindowClass, "login", root, (x_width() - 366) / 2, (x_height() - 183) / 2, 366, 183,
 				     MwNtitle, "login",
diff --git a/milkwm/wm.c b/milkwm/wm.c
index b3c2a5a..b008834 100644
--- a/milkwm/wm.c
+++ b/milkwm/wm.c
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ void loop_wm(void) {
 
 	MwLibraryInit();
 
-	root = MwCreateWidget(NULL, "root", NULL, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+	root = MwVaCreateWidget(NULL, "root", NULL, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+				MwNmodernLook, 0,
+				NULL);
 
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&xmutex);
 
diff --git a/mpanel/main.c b/mpanel/main.c
index d58bab8..9a2740f 100644
--- a/mpanel/main.c
+++ b/mpanel/main.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ static int first = 1;
 
 static void resize(MwWidget handle, void* user, void* client) {
 	int bw = MwDefaultBorderWidth(window) + 2;
-	;
+
 	MwVaApply(box,
 		  MwNx, bw,
 		  MwNy, bw,
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ int main() {
 				  MwNtitle, "mpanel",
 				  MwNhasBorder, 1,
 				  MwNinverted, 0,
+				  MwNmodernLook, 0,
 				  NULL);
 
 	box = MwCreateWidget(MwBoxClass, "box", window, 0, 0, 0, 0);