diff --git a/static/css/ie.css b/static/css/ie.css
index e670ea5bca..d41fcf8af3 100644
--- a/static/css/ie.css
+++ b/static/css/ie.css
@@ -109,6 +109,22 @@
 		background-color: #323232; /* var(--MENU-SEARCH-BG-color) */
 	}
 
+	.searchbox input:-ms-input-placeholder {
+		color: #e0e0e0; /* var(--INTERNAL-MENU-SEARCH-color) */
+		opacity: .45;
+	}
+
+	#sidebar .searchbox > :first-child,
+	#sidebar .searchbox button,
+	.searchbox span {
+		color: #e0e0e0; /* var(--INTERNAL-MENU-SEARCH-color) */
+	}
+
+	.searchform input:-ms-input-placeholder {
+		color: rgba( 134, 134, 134 );
+		opacity: .666;
+	}
+
 	#sidebar .collapsible-menu .toggle,
 	#sidebar .select-container,
 	#sidebar a,
@@ -616,14 +632,4 @@
 		/* hide the triangle */
 		display: none;
 	}
-
-	.searchbox input:-ms-input-placeholder {
-		color: rgba( 255, 255, 255, .4 );
-		opacity: 1;
-	}
-
-	.searchform input:-ms-input-placeholder {
-		color: rgba( 134, 134, 134, .666 );
-		opacity: 1;
-	}
 }
diff --git a/static/css/theme.css b/static/css/theme.css
index 99032e9e6f..f7a83dc5cf 100644
--- a/static/css/theme.css
+++ b/static/css/theme.css
@@ -128,12 +128,12 @@ dd {
 #sidebar .searchbox > :first-child,
 #sidebar .searchbox button,
 .searchbox span {
-    color: rgba( 255, 255, 255, .6 );
+    opacity: .65;
 }
 
 #sidebar .searchbox button:hover,
 .searchbox span:hover {
-    color: rgba( 255, 255, 255, .9 );
+    opacity: 1;
 }
 
 .searchbox input {
@@ -148,8 +148,7 @@ dd {
 }
 
 .searchbox input::placeholder {
-    color: rgba( 255, 255, 255, .4 );
-    opacity: unset;
+    opacity: .45;
 }
 
 #content-wrapper {
@@ -1602,9 +1601,10 @@ input[type="search"]::-webkit-search-results-decoration { display: none; }
     margin-inline-end: .5rem;
 }
 
+.searchform input::-webkit-input-placeholder,
 .searchform input::placeholder {
-    color: rgba( 134, 134, 134, .666 );
-    opacity: unset;
+    color: rgba( 134, 134, 134 );
+    opacity: .666;
 }
 
 .searchform .btn {
diff --git a/static/css/variant.css b/static/css/variant.css
index 7a4c364c69..ed46e41cbb 100644
--- a/static/css/variant.css
+++ b/static/css/variant.css
@@ -139,6 +139,17 @@ a:hover,
     background-color: var(--INTERNAL-MENU-SEARCH-BG-color);
 }
 
+#sidebar .searchbox > :first-child,
+#sidebar .searchbox button,
+.searchbox span {
+    color: var(--INTERNAL-MENU-SEARCH-color);
+}
+
+.searchbox input::-webkit-input-placeholder,
+.searchbox input::placeholder {
+    color: var(--INTERNAL-MENU-SEARCH-color);
+}
+
 #sidebar .collapsible-menu .toggle,
 #sidebar .select-container,
 #sidebar a,