diff --git a/lib/outputlib.php b/lib/outputlib.php
index 56a1110b15d..d50d022a9b9 100644
--- a/lib/outputlib.php
+++ b/lib/outputlib.php
@@ -961,12 +961,31 @@ class theme_config {
      */
     public function editor_scss_to_css() {
         $css = '';
+        $dir = $this->dir;
+        $filenames = [];
 
+        // Use editor_scss file(s) provided by this theme if set.
         if (!empty($this->editor_scss)) {
+            $filenames = $this->editor_scss;
+        } else {
+            // If no editor_scss set, move up theme hierarchy until one is found (if at all).
+            // This is so child themes only need to set editor_scss if an override is required.
+            foreach (array_reverse($this->parent_configs) as $parentconfig) {
+                if (!empty($parentconfig->editor_scss)) {
+                    $dir = $parentconfig->dir;
+                    $filenames = $parentconfig->editor_scss;
+
+                    // Config found, stop looking.
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (!empty($filenames)) {
             $compiler = new core_scss();
 
-            foreach ($this->editor_scss as $filename) {
-                $compiler->set_file("{$this->dir}/scss/{$filename}.scss");
+            foreach ($filenames as $filename) {
+                $compiler->set_file("{$dir}/scss/{$filename}.scss");
 
                 try {
                     $css .= $compiler->to_css();
diff --git a/lib/tests/theme_config_test.php b/lib/tests/theme_config_test.php
index 85945c41cd0..35f3df73c63 100644
--- a/lib/tests/theme_config_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/theme_config_test.php
@@ -175,4 +175,42 @@ class core_theme_config_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
 
         $this->assertRegExp("/{$themerevision}_{$themesubrevision}/", $url->out(false));
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Confirm that editor_scss_to_css is correctly compiling for themes with no parent.
+     */
+    public function test_editor_scss_to_css_root_theme() {
+        global $CFG;
+
+        $this->resetAfterTest();
+        $theme = theme_config::load('boost');
+        $editorscss = $CFG->dirroot.'/theme/boost/scss/editor.scss';
+
+        $this->assertTrue(file_exists($editorscss));
+        $compiler = new core_scss();
+        $compiler->set_file($editorscss);
+        $cssexpected = $compiler->to_css();
+        $cssactual = $theme->editor_scss_to_css();
+
+        $this->assertEquals($cssexpected, $cssactual);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Confirm that editor_scss_to_css is compiling for a child theme not overriding its parent's editor SCSS.
+     */
+    public function test_editor_scss_to_css_child_theme() {
+        global $CFG;
+
+        $this->resetAfterTest();
+        $theme = theme_config::load('classic');
+        $editorscss = $CFG->dirroot.'/theme/boost/scss/editor.scss';
+
+        $this->assertTrue(file_exists($editorscss));
+        $compiler = new core_scss();
+        $compiler->set_file($editorscss);
+        $cssexpected = $compiler->to_css();
+        $cssactual = $theme->editor_scss_to_css();
+
+        $this->assertEquals($cssexpected, $cssactual);
+    }
 }