diff --git a/lib/tdeck_ui/UI/LXMF/MapScreen.cpp b/lib/tdeck_ui/UI/LXMF/MapScreen.cpp
index 09312603..af7e5c59 100644
--- a/lib/tdeck_ui/UI/LXMF/MapScreen.cpp
+++ b/lib/tdeck_ui/UI/LXMF/MapScreen.cpp
@@ -100,6 +100,13 @@ const char* styleLabel(const char* style_id) {
     return "Style";
 }
 
+// The allowlist is otherwise light basemaps (osm-bright, positron, toner).
+// Marker labels sit directly on those tiles with no backing plate, so black
+// reads on light backgrounds and white only on the one dark basemap.
+bool isDarkBasemap(const char* style_id) {
+    return style_id != nullptr && std::strcmp(style_id, "dark-matter") == 0;
+}
+
 }  // namespace
 
 static_assert(sizeof(lv_color_t) == 2U,
@@ -728,6 +735,13 @@ void MapScreen::applyFrame() {
             setPlaceholder(index);
         }
     }
+    // Marker labels float directly over the basemap tiles (no backing plate),
+    // so their ink must contrast the active style: black on light basemaps,
+    // white on the one dark basemap. Re-evaluated every frame so a style
+    // switch re-colors any visible labels on the next applied frame.
+    const lv_color_t marker_label_color =
+        isDarkBasemap(style_selector_.activeId())
+            ? lv_color_white() : lv_color_black();
     for (std::size_t index = 0; index < MARKER_COUNT; ++index) {
         if (index >= frame.marker_count) {
             lv_obj_add_flag(approximation_halos_[index], LV_OBJ_FLAG_HIDDEN);
@@ -764,6 +778,7 @@ void MapScreen::applyFrame() {
                           marker.peer.bytes[Telemetry::PEER_ID_SIZE - 1U]);
         }
         lv_label_set_text(marker_labels_[index], label);
+        lv_obj_set_style_text_color(marker_labels_[index], marker_label_color, 0);
         lv_obj_set_pos(marker_labels_[index], x + 6, y - 7);
         lv_obj_clear_flag(marker_labels_[index], LV_OBJ_FLAG_HIDDEN);
     }
diff --git a/tests/build_scripts/test_map_screen_contract.py b/tests/build_scripts/test_map_screen_contract.py
index 59c9b125..62097423 100644
--- a/tests/build_scripts/test_map_screen_contract.py
+++ b/tests/build_scripts/test_map_screen_contract.py
@@ -262,6 +262,26 @@ def test_style_switch_is_bounded_and_worker_owned():
     assert "style_selector_.clearError()" in hide
 
 
+def test_marker_labels_contrast_active_basemap_style():
+    source = text(UI / "MapScreen.cpp")
+    # The allowlist is light basemaps except one dark style, so pin labels are
+    # black by default and white only over the dark basemap.
+    assert "bool isDarkBasemap(const char* style_id)" in source
+    dark = function_body(source, "bool isDarkBasemap(const char* style_id)")
+    assert "std::strcmp(style_id, \"dark-matter\") == 0" in dark
+
+    frame = function_body(source, "void MapScreen::applyFrame()")
+    assert "isDarkBasemap(style_selector_.activeId())" in frame
+    # The ternary text encodes the contract: dark basemap -> white,
+    # otherwise -> black (so black is the default for light basemaps).
+    assert "lv_color_white() : lv_color_black()" in frame
+    assert "lv_obj_set_style_text_color(marker_labels_[index], marker_label_color, 0)" in frame
+    # The color is derived once per frame and applied inside the marker loop.
+    derive = frame.index("marker_label_color")
+    apply = frame.index("lv_obj_set_style_text_color(marker_labels_[index], marker_label_color")
+    assert derive < apply
+
+
 def test_ui_manager_services_before_lock_and_hides_map_everywhere():
     source = text(UI / "UIManager.cpp")
     update = function_body(source, "void UIManager::update()")