diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/application/options/colors/ColorAndFontOptions.java b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/application/options/colors/ColorAndFontOptions.java
index 67cce4515bd2..32f5a12932c2 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/application/options/colors/ColorAndFontOptions.java
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/application/options/colors/ColorAndFontOptions.java
@@ -527,7 +527,13 @@ public class ColorAndFontOptions extends SearchableConfigurable.Parent.Abstract
   @Override
   public @NotNull Configurable @NotNull [] buildConfigurables() {
     myDisposeCompleted = false;
-    initAll();
+    // Skip initAll() if the shared model already contains MyColorScheme objects from another active
+    // ColorAndFontOptions instance (e.g. an open non-modal Settings dialog).  Calling initAll() would
+    // wipe unsaved edits via dropSchemes().  This path is hit when Search Everywhere or other code
+    // enumerates configurables and triggers buildConfigurables() on a throwaway instance.
+    if (!hasMyColorSchemesInModel()) {
+      initAll();
+    }
 
     List<ColorAndFontPanelFactory> panelFactories = createPanelFactories();
 
@@ -669,6 +675,13 @@ public class ColorAndFontOptions extends SearchableConfigurable.Parent.Abstract
      }
    }
 
+  private boolean hasMyColorSchemesInModel() {
+    for (EditorColorsScheme scheme : myModel.allSchemes()) {
+      if (scheme instanceof MyColorScheme) return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   private void initAll() {
     EditorColorsScheme globalScheme = EditorColorsManager.getInstance().getGlobalScheme();