diff --git a/lua/nvim-web-devicons.lua b/lua/nvim-web-devicons.lua
index 7c77ba6c..44cbc7ec 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-web-devicons.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-web-devicons.lua
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ local global_opts = {
   variant = nil,
 }
 
--- Set the current icons tables, depending on the 'background' option.
+-- Set the current icons tables, depending on variant option, then &background
 local function refresh_icons()
   local theme
   if global_opts.variant == "light" then
@@ -381,10 +381,10 @@ function M.setup(opts)
 
   if user_icons.variant == "light" or user_icons.variant == "dark" then
     global_opts.variant = user_icons.variant
-  end
 
-  -- Load the icons after setting variant option
-  refresh_icons()
+    -- Reload the icons after setting variant option
+    refresh_icons()
+  end
 
   if user_icons.override and user_icons.override.default_icon then
     default_icon = user_icons.override.default_icon
@@ -593,6 +593,9 @@ function M.set_default_icon(icon, color, cterm_color)
   set_up_highlight(default_icon)
 end
 
+-- Load the icons already, the loaded tables depend on the 'background' setting.
+refresh_icons()
+
 function M.refresh()
   refresh_icons()
   M.set_up_highlights(true)