diff --git a/src/lib/parseCssConfig.js b/src/lib/parseCssConfig.js
index 99a9acfd8..b218304f7 100644
--- a/src/lib/parseCssConfig.js
+++ b/src/lib/parseCssConfig.js
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ export function parseCssConfig(root) {
     }
   })
 
-  theme.remove()
+  // Allow the variables to be used with var() anywhere in CSS
+  theme.selector = ':root'
 
   return config
 }
diff --git a/tests/css-configuration.test.js b/tests/css-configuration.test.js
index 470801809..9b25c2bbc 100644
--- a/tests/css-configuration.test.js
+++ b/tests/css-configuration.test.js
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ test('it does something', () => {
         --tw-text-opacity: 1;
         color: rgb(250 202 222 / var(--tw-text-opacity));
       }
+      :root {
+        --colors-potato: #facade;
+      }
     `)
   })
 })