diff --git a/webapp/channels/src/actions/websocket_actions.jsx b/webapp/channels/src/actions/websocket_actions.jsx
index 9e5caa492a..bbd33bdc1c 100644
--- a/webapp/channels/src/actions/websocket_actions.jsx
+++ b/webapp/channels/src/actions/websocket_actions.jsx
@@ -1503,6 +1503,10 @@ function handleSidebarCategoryCreated(msg) {
     return (doDispatch, doGetState) => {
         const state = doGetState();
 
+        if (!msg.broadcast.team_id) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (msg.broadcast.team_id !== getCurrentTeamId(state)) {
             // The new category will be loaded when we switch teams.
             return;
@@ -1518,6 +1522,10 @@ function handleSidebarCategoryUpdated(msg) {
     return (doDispatch, doGetState) => {
         const state = doGetState();
 
+        if (!msg.broadcast.team_id) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (msg.broadcast.team_id !== getCurrentTeamId(state)) {
             // The updated categories will be loaded when we switch teams.
             return;
@@ -1533,6 +1541,10 @@ function handleSidebarCategoryDeleted(msg) {
     return (doDispatch, doGetState) => {
         const state = doGetState();
 
+        if (!msg.broadcast.team_id) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (msg.broadcast.team_id !== getCurrentTeamId(state)) {
             // The category will be removed when we switch teams.
             return;
diff --git a/webapp/channels/src/components/root/root.test.tsx b/webapp/channels/src/components/root/root.test.tsx
index 27f6ed19dd..75705ad226 100644
--- a/webapp/channels/src/components/root/root.test.tsx
+++ b/webapp/channels/src/components/root/root.test.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import * as GlobalActions from 'actions/global_actions';
 import testConfigureStore from 'packages/mattermost-redux/test/test_store';
 import {renderWithContext, waitFor} from 'tests/react_testing_utils';
 import {StoragePrefixes} from 'utils/constants';
+import * as Utils from 'utils/utils';
 
 import {handleLoginLogoutSignal, redirectToOnboardingOrDefaultTeam} from './actions';
 import type {Props} from './root';
@@ -49,14 +50,9 @@ jest.mock('components/team_sidebar', () => () => <div/>);
 jest.mock('components/mobile_view_watcher', () => () => <div/>);
 jest.mock('./performance_reporter_controller', () => () => <div/>);
 
-jest.mock('utils/utils', () => {
-    const original = jest.requireActual('utils/utils');
-
-    return {
-        ...original,
-        applyTheme: jest.fn(),
-    };
-});
+jest.mock('utils/utils', () => ({
+    applyTheme: jest.fn(),
+}));
 
 jest.mock('actions/global_actions', () => ({
     redirectUserToDefaultTeam: jest.fn(),
@@ -74,7 +70,7 @@ describe('components/Root', () => {
     const store = testConfigureStore();
 
     const baseProps: Props = {
-        theme: {} as Theme,
+        theme: {sidebarBg: 'color'} as Theme,
         isConfigLoaded: true,
         telemetryEnabled: true,
         noAccounts: false,
@@ -372,6 +368,51 @@ describe('components/Root', () => {
             });
         });
     });
+
+    describe('applyTheme', () => {
+        test('should apply theme initially and on change', async () => {
+            const props = {
+                ...baseProps,
+            };
+
+            const {rerender} = renderWithContext(<Root {...props}/>);
+
+            await waitFor(() => {
+                expect(Utils.applyTheme).toHaveBeenCalledWith(props.theme);
+            });
+
+            const props2 = {
+                ...props,
+                theme: {sidebarBg: 'color2'} as Theme,
+            };
+
+            rerender(<Root {...props2}/>);
+
+            expect(Utils.applyTheme).toHaveBeenCalledWith(props2.theme);
+        });
+
+        test('should not apply theme in system console', async () => {
+            const props = {
+                ...baseProps,
+                ...{
+                    location: {
+                        pathname: '/admin_console',
+                    },
+                } as RouteComponentProps,
+            };
+
+            const {rerender} = renderWithContext(<Root {...props}/>);
+
+            const props2 = {
+                ...props,
+                theme: {sidebarBg: 'color2'} as Theme,
+            };
+
+            rerender(<Root {...props2}/>);
+
+            expect(Utils.applyTheme).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        });
+    });
 });
 
 describe('doesRouteBelongToTeamControllerRoutes', () => {
diff --git a/webapp/channels/src/components/root/root.tsx b/webapp/channels/src/components/root/root.tsx
index 01661006e0..c6c7bf2cc2 100644
--- a/webapp/channels/src/components/root/root.tsx
+++ b/webapp/channels/src/components/root/root.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {setSystemEmojis} from 'mattermost-redux/actions/emojis';
 import {setUrl} from 'mattermost-redux/actions/general';
 import {Client4} from 'mattermost-redux/client';
 import {rudderAnalytics, RudderTelemetryHandler} from 'mattermost-redux/client/rudder';
+import {Preferences} from 'mattermost-redux/constants';
 
 import {measurePageLoadTelemetry, temporarilySetPageLoadContext, trackEvent, trackSelectorMetrics} from 'actions/telemetry_actions.jsx';
 import BrowserStore from 'stores/browser_store';
@@ -191,7 +192,7 @@ export default class Root extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
 
         this.showLandingPageIfNecessary();
 
-        applyTheme(this.props.theme);
+        this.applyTheme();
     };
 
     private showLandingPageIfNecessary = () => {
@@ -255,9 +256,19 @@ export default class Root extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
         BrowserStore.setLandingPageSeen(true);
     };
 
+    applyTheme() {
+        // don't apply theme when in system console; system console hardcoded to THEMES.denim
+        // AdminConsole will apply denim on mount re-apply user theme on unmount
+        if (this.props.location.pathname.startsWith('/admin_console')) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        applyTheme(this.props.theme);
+    }
+
     componentDidUpdate(prevProps: Props, prevState: State) {
         if (!deepEqual(prevProps.theme, this.props.theme)) {
-            applyTheme(this.props.theme);
+            this.applyTheme();
         }
 
         if (this.props.location.pathname === '/') {
@@ -452,7 +463,7 @@ export default class Root extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
                     >
                         <Switch>
                             <LoggedInRoute
-                                theme={this.props.theme}
+                                theme={Preferences.THEMES.denim}
                                 path={'/admin_console'}
                                 component={AdminConsole}
                             />