diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sun/java/swing/plaf/windows/WindowsLookAndFeel.java b/src/main/java/com/sun/java/swing/plaf/windows/WindowsLookAndFeel.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8603623a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sun/java/swing/plaf/windows/WindowsLookAndFeel.java
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/*
+ * *****************************************************************************
+ * Copyright (C) 2014-2026 Dennis Sheirer
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>
+ * ****************************************************************************
+ */
+
+package com.sun.java.swing.plaf.windows;
+
+import javax.swing.LookAndFeel;
+import javax.swing.UIDefaults;
+
+/**
+ * No-op stub for the JDK's Windows look-and-feel.
+ *
+ * <p>JIDE 3.6.18's {@code LookAndFeelFactory} contains compile-time
+ * {@code instanceof com.sun.java.swing.plaf.windows.WindowsLookAndFeel} checks throughout its
+ * dispatch logic.  On Linux and macOS JDK builds that class is genuinely absent from
+ * {@code java.desktop}, so the JVM throws {@link NoClassDefFoundError} the first time JIDE's
+ * dispatch code executes the {@code instanceof} bytecode.  That happens during
+ * {@link com.jidesoft.swing.JideSplitPane#updateUI()} on every LAF change.
+ *
+ * <p>This stub lives in the classpath so the class reference resolves on non-Windows JDKs.
+ * On Windows JDK builds the real {@code WindowsLookAndFeel} is loaded from the
+ * {@code java.desktop} module via the boot class loader and shadows this class.
+ *
+ * <p>The stub reports itself as not native and not supported - JIDE never instantiates this
+ * class, it only uses it for {@code instanceof} comparisons against the active LAF.  Since
+ * sdrtrunk never installs this LAF, the {@code instanceof} check always returns false and
+ * JIDE proceeds to its next branch.
+ */
+public class WindowsLookAndFeel extends LookAndFeel
+{
+    @Override
+    public String getName()
+    {
+        return "Windows (stub)";
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getID()
+    {
+        return "WindowsStub";
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getDescription()
+    {
+        return "Compatibility stub for JIDE's instanceof checks on non-Windows JDKs.";
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean isNativeLookAndFeel()
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean isSupportedLookAndFeel()
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public UIDefaults getDefaults()
+    {
+        return new UIDefaults();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/github/dsheirer/gui/theme/ThemeManager.java b/src/main/java/io/github/dsheirer/gui/theme/ThemeManager.java
index 1384749d..f6f3cd9d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/github/dsheirer/gui/theme/ThemeManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/github/dsheirer/gui/theme/ThemeManager.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import javafx.application.Platform;
 import javafx.scene.Scene;
 import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
 import javax.swing.UIManager;
+import javax.swing.plaf.metal.MetalLookAndFeel;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
@@ -259,11 +260,14 @@ public class ThemeManager
 
         try
         {
-            //JIDE components (split panes, docking) need their UI delegates re-registered
-            //after every LAF change.  Pass an explicit style: the no-arg version probes
-            //com.sun.java.swing.plaf.windows.WindowsLookAndFeel which is not present on
-            //non-Windows JDKs, throwing ClassNotFoundException at startup.
-            LookAndFeelFactory.installJideExtension(LookAndFeelFactory.VSNET_STYLE);
+            //JIDE 3.6.18 has compile-time `instanceof WindowsLookAndFeel` checks throughout
+            //LookAndFeelFactory.  On Linux/macOS JDKs that class is not present at all, so any
+            //call path that reaches those checks fails with NoClassDefFoundError.  The 3-arg
+            //overload lets us hand JIDE an explicit Metal LAF instance for *type detection*
+            //while leaving the real (FlatLaf) defaults table in place; JIDE's Metal branch
+            //matches first and the Windows branch is never reached.
+            LookAndFeelFactory.installJideExtension(UIManager.getLookAndFeelDefaults(),
+                    new MetalLookAndFeel(), LookAndFeelFactory.VSNET_STYLE);
         }
         catch(Throwable t)
         {