diff --git a/res/values/attrs.xml b/res/values/attrs.xml
index 7a9e3c120..c472fdf97 100644
--- a/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -365,6 +365,9 @@
         <attr name="bottomSheetDialogTheme" format="reference" />
         <!-- Style to use for modal bottom sheets in this theme. -->
         <attr name="bottomSheetStyle" format="reference" />
+
+        <!-- Text color used to indicate an error has occurred. -->
+        <attr name="textColorError" format="color" />
     </declare-styleable>
 
 </resources>
diff --git a/res/values/colors.xml b/res/values/colors.xml
index a958156e5..ebf641235 100644
--- a/res/values/colors.xml
+++ b/res/values/colors.xml
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@
     <!-- Shadow color for the furthest pixels of a shadow -->
     <color name="design_fab_shadow_end_color">@android:color/transparent</color>
 
-    <color name="design_textinput_error_color">#FFDD2C00</color>
+    <color name="design_textinput_error_color_light">#FFD50000</color>
+    <color name="design_textinput_error_color_dark">#FFFF6E6E</color>
 
     <color name="design_snackbar_background_color">#323232</color>
 
diff --git a/res/values/styles.xml b/res/values/styles.xml
index 7111ad9d6..8753c6339 100644
--- a/res/values/styles.xml
+++ b/res/values/styles.xml
@@ -71,13 +71,13 @@
     </style>
 
     <style name="TextAppearance.Design.Error" parent="TextAppearance.AppCompat.Caption">
-        <item name="android:textColor">@color/design_textinput_error_color</item>
+        <item name="android:textColor">?attr/textColorError</item>
     </style>
 
     <style name="TextAppearance.Design.Counter" parent="TextAppearance.AppCompat.Caption"/>
 
     <style name="TextAppearance.Design.Counter.Overflow" parent="TextAppearance.AppCompat.Caption">
-        <item name="android:textColor">@color/design_textinput_error_color</item>
+        <item name="android:textColor">?attr/textColorError</item>
     </style>
 
     <style name="TextAppearance.Design.Snackbar.Message" parent="android:TextAppearance">
diff --git a/res/values/themes.xml b/res/values/themes.xml
index 0e3b1b131..5768692c0 100644
--- a/res/values/themes.xml
+++ b/res/values/themes.xml
@@ -28,4 +28,22 @@
         <item name="bottomSheetStyle">@style/Widget.Design.BottomSheet.Modal</item>
     </style>
 
+    <style name="Theme.Design" parent="Theme.AppCompat">
+        <item name="textColorError">@color/design_textinput_error_color_dark</item>
+    </style>
+
+    <style name="Theme.Design.Light" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light">
+        <item name="textColorError">@color/design_textinput_error_color_light</item>
+    </style>
+
+    <style name="Theme.Design.NoActionBar">
+        <item name="windowActionBar">false</item>
+        <item name="windowNoTitle">true</item>
+    </style>
+
+    <style name="Theme.Design.Light.NoActionBar">
+        <item name="windowActionBar">false</item>
+        <item name="windowNoTitle">true</item>
+    </style>
+
 </resources>
diff --git a/src/android/support/design/widget/TextInputLayout.java b/src/android/support/design/widget/TextInputLayout.java
index 45c7452bc..3bf0204b0 100644
--- a/src/android/support/design/widget/TextInputLayout.java
+++ b/src/android/support/design/widget/TextInputLayout.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package android.support.design.widget;
 
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.res.ColorStateList;
+import android.content.res.Resources;
 import android.content.res.TypedArray;
 import android.graphics.Canvas;
 import android.graphics.Paint;
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
 import android.support.annotation.Nullable;
 import android.support.annotation.StyleRes;
 import android.support.design.R;
+import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
 import android.support.v4.view.AccessibilityDelegateCompat;
 import android.support.v4.view.GravityCompat;
 import android.support.v4.view.ViewCompat;
@@ -481,7 +483,16 @@ public class TextInputLayout extends LinearLayout {
 
             if (enabled) {
                 mErrorView = new TextView(getContext());
-                mErrorView.setTextAppearance(getContext(), mErrorTextAppearance);
+                try {
+                    mErrorView.setTextAppearance(getContext(), mErrorTextAppearance);
+                } catch (Resources.NotFoundException nfe) {
+                    // Probably caused by our theme not extending from Theme.Design*. Instead
+                    // we manually set something appropriate
+                    mErrorView.setTextAppearance(getContext(),
+                            R.style.TextAppearance_AppCompat_Caption);
+                    mErrorView.setTextColor(ContextCompat.getColor(
+                            getContext(), R.color.design_textinput_error_color_light));
+                }
                 mErrorView.setVisibility(INVISIBLE);
                 ViewCompat.setAccessibilityLiveRegion(mErrorView,
                         ViewCompat.ACCESSIBILITY_LIVE_REGION_POLITE);
@@ -593,7 +604,16 @@ public class TextInputLayout extends LinearLayout {
             if (enabled) {
                 mCounterView = new TextView(getContext());
                 mCounterView.setMaxLines(1);
-                mCounterView.setTextAppearance(getContext(), mCounterTextAppearance);
+                try {
+                    mCounterView.setTextAppearance(getContext(), mCounterTextAppearance);
+                } catch (Resources.NotFoundException nfe) {
+                    // Probably caused by our theme not extending from Theme.Design*. Instead
+                    // we manually set something appropriate
+                    mCounterView.setTextAppearance(getContext(),
+                            R.style.TextAppearance_AppCompat_Caption);
+                    mCounterView.setTextColor(ContextCompat.getColor(
+                            getContext(), R.color.design_textinput_error_color_light));
+                }
                 ViewCompat.setAccessibilityLiveRegion(mCounterView,
                         ViewCompat.ACCESSIBILITY_LIVE_REGION_POLITE);
                 addIndicator(mCounterView, -1);