diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json-resolver.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json-resolver.php
index b1f15897b1af5..e4afc3c1489d8 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json-resolver.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json-resolver.php
@@ -322,6 +322,11 @@ public static function get_theme_data( $deprecated = array(), $options = array()
 
 			// Classic themes without a theme.json don't support global duotone.
 			$theme_support_data['settings']['color']['defaultDuotone'] = false;
+
+			// Allow themes to enable appearance tools via theme_support.
+			if ( current_theme_supports( 'appearance-tools' ) ) {
+				$theme_support_data['settings']['appearanceTools'] = true;
+			}
 		}
 		$with_theme_supports = new WP_Theme_JSON( $theme_support_data );
 		$with_theme_supports->merge( static::$theme );