diff --git a/src/webview/static/base.css b/src/webview/static/base.css
index e200d0bdc1d..805e6fdeb60 100644
--- a/src/webview/static/base.css
+++ b/src/webview/static/base.css
@@ -120,10 +120,13 @@ body {
   text-overflow: ellipsis;
   pointer-events: none;
 }
+.topic-text[data-followed="true"] {
+  background-color: blue; /* this *does* work, great */
+}
 .topic-text[data-followed="true"]::after {
   content: "";
   background-color: red;
-  background-image: url("images/follow.svg");
+  /* background-image: url("images/follow.svg"); */
   margin-left: 12px;
   width: 17px;
   height: 17px;