diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/utils.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/utils.js
index 6d1f23bfe..21818ec70 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/utils.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/utils.js
@@ -1331,9 +1331,13 @@ RED.utils = (function() {
 
     function getNodeColor(type, def) {
         def = def || {};
-        if (type === 'subflow') {
+        // Allow a subflow instance colour to take precedence over theme if not the default color
+        if (/^subflow($|:)/.test(type) && def.hasOwnProperty('color') && def.color !== "#DDAA99") {
             return def.color
         }
+        if (type === 'subflow') {
+            type = def.type 
+        }
         if (!nodeColorCache.hasOwnProperty(type)) {
             const paletteTheme = RED.settings.theme('palette.theme') || [];
             if (paletteTheme.length > 0) {