diff --git a/less/navs.less b/less/navs.less
index ed41b8cb47..47e564e83d 100644
--- a/less/navs.less
+++ b/less/navs.less
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 .nav-pills > .active > a:hover,
 .nav-pills > .active > a:focus {
   color: #fff;
-  background-color: @link-color;
+  background-color: @component-active-bg;
 }
 
 // Stacked pills
diff --git a/less/variables.less b/less/variables.less
index 2552c8e905..2d2756b553 100644
--- a/less/variables.less
+++ b/less/variables.less
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 // Links
 // -------------------------
 
-@link-color:            #428bca;
+@link-color:            @brand-primary;
 @link-color-hover:      darken(@link-color, 15%);
 
 // Typography
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 @headings-font-weight:    500;
 
 
-// Component sizing
+// Components
 // -------------------------
 // Based on 14px font-size and 1.5 line-height
 
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@
 @border-radius-large:     6px;
 @border-radius-small:     3px;
 
+@component-active-bg:            @brand-primary;
+
 
 // Tables
 // -------------------------
@@ -137,7 +139,7 @@
 @dropdown-link-color-hover:      #fff;
 @dropdown-link-color-active:     #fff;
 
-@dropdown-link-background-active:  @link-color;
+@dropdown-link-background-active:  @component-active-bg;
 @dropdown-link-background-hover:   @dropdown-link-background-active;