diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 15b0d74..edbe7f4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -61,6 +61,14 @@ $ ./bumblebee-status -l modules
 
 Any parameter you can specify with `-p <name>=<value>`, you can alternatively specify in `~/.bumblebee-status.conf` or `~/.config/bumblebee-status.conf`. This parameters act as a **fallback**, so values specified with `-p` have priority.
 
+Parameters can also be used to override theme settings, such as:
+
+```
+$ ./bumblebee-status -p <module>.theme.<theme field>=<value>
+# for example, to get a spacer with a red background:
+$ ./bumblebee-status -m spacer -p spacer.theme.bg=#ff0000
+```
+
 Configuration files have a format like this:
 ```
 $ cat ~/.bumblebee-status.conf
diff --git a/bumblebee/theme.py b/bumblebee/theme.py
index 92f4786..7fa8f65 100644
--- a/bumblebee/theme.py
+++ b/bumblebee/theme.py
@@ -233,7 +233,8 @@ class Theme(object):
             widget.set(key, (idx + 1) % len(value))
             value = value[idx]
 
-        value = widget.get_module().parameter("theme.{}".format(name), value)
+        if widget.get_module() is not None:
+            value = widget.get_module().parameter("theme.{}".format(name), value)
 
         if isinstance(value, list) or isinstance(value, dict):
             return value