diff --git a/src/moongreet/config.py b/src/moongreet/config.py
index 2fd6808..d7c1251 100644
--- a/src/moongreet/config.py
+++ b/src/moongreet/config.py
@@ -1,15 +1,12 @@
 # ABOUTME: Configuration loading from moongreet.toml.
 # ABOUTME: Parses appearance and behavior settings with wallpaper path resolution.
 
-import re
 import tomllib
 from contextlib import AbstractContextManager
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from importlib.resources import as_file, files
 from pathlib import Path
 
-VALID_THEME_NAME = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$")
-
 DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATHS = [
     Path("/etc/moongreet/moongreet.toml"),
 ]
@@ -56,7 +53,7 @@ def load_config(config_path: Path | None = None) -> Config:
         config.background = bg_path
 
     gtk_theme = appearance.get("gtk-theme")
-    if gtk_theme and VALID_THEME_NAME.match(gtk_theme):
+    if gtk_theme:
         config.gtk_theme = gtk_theme
 
     return config
diff --git a/src/moongreet/users.py b/src/moongreet/users.py
index cf1f508..7af37a2 100644
--- a/src/moongreet/users.py
+++ b/src/moongreet/users.py
@@ -2,12 +2,9 @@
 # ABOUTME: Provides User dataclass and helper functions for the greeter UI.
 
 import configparser
-import re
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 
-VALID_THEME_NAME = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$")
-
 NOLOGIN_SHELLS = {"/usr/sbin/nologin", "/sbin/nologin", "/bin/false", "/usr/bin/nologin"}
 MIN_UID = 1000
 MAX_UID = 65533
@@ -106,8 +103,7 @@ def get_user_gtk_theme(config_dir: Path | None = None) -> str | None:
 
     if config.has_option("Settings", "gtk-theme-name"):
         theme = config.get("Settings", "gtk-theme-name")
-        # Validate against path traversal — only allow safe theme names
-        if theme and VALID_THEME_NAME.match(theme):
+        if theme:
             return theme
 
     return None
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 2cdd64b..0b7f872 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -62,16 +62,6 @@ class TestLoadConfig:
 
         assert config.gtk_theme is None
 
-    def test_rejects_gtk_theme_with_path_traversal(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
-        toml_file = tmp_path / "moongreet.toml"
-        toml_file.write_text(
-            "[appearance]\n"
-            'gtk-theme = "../../etc/evil"\n'
-        )
-
-        config = load_config(toml_file)
-
-        assert config.gtk_theme is None
 
     def test_resolves_relative_path_against_config_dir(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
         toml_file = tmp_path / "moongreet.toml"
diff --git a/tests/test_users.py b/tests/test_users.py
index f357f8c..09bae44 100644
--- a/tests/test_users.py
+++ b/tests/test_users.py
@@ -186,27 +186,18 @@ class TestGetUserGtkTheme:
 
         assert result is None
 
-    def test_handles_interpolation_characters(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
-        """Theme names with % characters are rejected by validation."""
+    def test_passes_theme_with_special_characters(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        """Theme names with special characters are passed through to GTK."""
         gtk_dir = tmp_path / ".config" / "gtk-4.0"
         gtk_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
         settings = gtk_dir / "settings.ini"
-        settings.write_text("[Settings]\ngtk-theme-name=My%Theme\n")
+        settings.write_text(
+            "[Settings]\ngtk-theme-name=catppuccin-mocha-lavender-standard+default\n"
+        )
 
         result = get_user_gtk_theme(config_dir=gtk_dir)
 
-        assert result is None
-
-    def test_rejects_path_traversal_theme_name(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
-        """Theme names with path traversal characters should be rejected."""
-        gtk_dir = tmp_path / ".config" / "gtk-4.0"
-        gtk_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
-        settings = gtk_dir / "settings.ini"
-        settings.write_text("[Settings]\ngtk-theme-name=../../../../etc/evil\n")
-
-        result = get_user_gtk_theme(config_dir=gtk_dir)
-
-        assert result is None
+        assert result == "catppuccin-mocha-lavender-standard+default"
 
     def test_ignores_symlinked_accountsservice_icon(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
         """AccountsService icon as symlink should be ignored to prevent traversal."""