diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7bae99b..c5c0331 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Opt-in process metrics (`PAPERCUT_METRICS=1`) — `GET /api/metrics` counters only (`pastes_created`, `unlocks_ok`, `rate_limited`); disabled by default; no content/IP logging
 - Log canvas **wrap / no-wrap** toggle (dense horizontal scroll), sticky line-number gutter, preference in `localStorage`
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Theme FOUC boot script is a static string (no `JSON.stringify` interpolation) to clear CodeQL `js/bad-code-sanitization`
+
 ### Planned
 
 See [ROADMAP.md](./ROADMAP.md) (dependency updates, canvas tools, scale features, etc.).
diff --git a/server/lib/theme.test.ts b/server/lib/theme.test.ts
index 61f26be..7b253d4 100644
--- a/server/lib/theme.test.ts
+++ b/server/lib/theme.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { isTheme, THEME_STORAGE_KEY } from "./theme";
+import { isTheme, THEME_BOOT_SCRIPT, THEME_STORAGE_KEY } from "./theme";
 
 describe("theme helpers", () => {
   it("accepts only dark and light", () => {
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ describe("theme helpers", () => {
     expect(isTheme(null)).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it("uses a stable storage key", () => {
+  it("uses a stable storage key shared by the FOUC boot script", () => {
     expect(THEME_STORAGE_KEY).toBe("papercut-theme");
+    // Boot script embeds the key as a static literal (no code construction).
+    expect(THEME_BOOT_SCRIPT).toContain(`localStorage.getItem("${THEME_STORAGE_KEY}")`);
+    expect(THEME_BOOT_SCRIPT).toContain('setAttribute("data-theme"');
   });
 });
diff --git a/server/lib/theme.ts b/server/lib/theme.ts
index 7607af9..5b7b649 100644
--- a/server/lib/theme.ts
+++ b/server/lib/theme.ts
@@ -33,5 +33,10 @@ export function resolveInitialTheme(): Theme {
   return readStoredTheme() ?? "dark";
 }
 
-/** Inline script: set data-theme before paint (no FOUC). */
-export const THEME_BOOT_SCRIPT = `(function(){try{var k=${JSON.stringify(THEME_STORAGE_KEY)};var t=localStorage.getItem(k);if(t!=="light"&&t!=="dark")t="dark";document.documentElement.setAttribute("data-theme",t);}catch(e){document.documentElement.setAttribute("data-theme","dark");}})();`;
+/**
+ * Inline script: set data-theme before paint (no FOUC).
+ * Fully static string (no interpolation) so CodeQL js/bad-code-sanitization stays clean.
+ * The localStorage key literal must stay equal to THEME_STORAGE_KEY.
+ */
+export const THEME_BOOT_SCRIPT =
+  '(function(){try{var t=localStorage.getItem("papercut-theme");if(t!=="light"&&t!=="dark")t="dark";document.documentElement.setAttribute("data-theme",t);}catch(e){document.documentElement.setAttribute("data-theme","dark");}})();';