diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/Effects/DropShadowEffect.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/Effects/DropShadowEffect.cs
index 5e4bc0a7ea..ea931c0a8c 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/Effects/DropShadowEffect.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/Effects/DropShadowEffect.cs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ public abstract class DropShadowEffectBase : Effect
     }
 
     public static readonly StyledProperty<Color> ColorProperty = AvaloniaProperty.Register<DropShadowEffectBase, Color>(
-        nameof(Color));
+        nameof(Color), Colors.Black);
 
     public Color Color
     {