diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index d5abaa6f8..863a5ea24 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Deprecated
 Features added
 --------------
 
+* LaTeX: Make the ``toplevel_sectioning`` setting optional in LaTeX theme
 * #7410: Allow to suppress "circular toctree references detected" warnings using
   :confval:`suppress_warnings`
 
diff --git a/doc/extdev/i18n.rst b/doc/extdev/i18n.rst
index a3232b857..75ef36cc5 100644
--- a/doc/extdev/i18n.rst
+++ b/doc/extdev/i18n.rst
@@ -35,25 +35,25 @@ In practice, you have to:
    :func:`sphinx.locale.get_translation` function, usually renamed ``_()``,
    e.g.:
 
-  .. code-block:: python
-     :caption: src/__init__.py
+   .. code-block:: python
+      :caption: src/__init__.py
 
-     from sphinx.locale import get_translation
+      from sphinx.locale import get_translation
 
-     MESSAGE_CATALOG_NAME = 'myextension'
-     _ = get_translation(MESSAGE_CATALOG_NAME)
+      MESSAGE_CATALOG_NAME = 'myextension'
+      _ = get_translation(MESSAGE_CATALOG_NAME)
 
-     translated_text = _('Hello Sphinx!')
+      translated_text = _('Hello Sphinx!')
 
 #. Set up your extension to be aware of its dedicated translations:
 
-  .. code-block:: python
-     :caption: src/__init__.py
+   .. code-block:: python
+      :caption: src/__init__.py
 
-     def setup(app):
-         package_dir = path.abspath(path.dirname(__file__))
-         locale_dir = os.path.join(package_dir, 'locales')
-         app.add_message_catalog(MESSAGE_CATALOG_NAME, locale_dir)
+      def setup(app):
+          package_dir = path.abspath(path.dirname(__file__))
+          locale_dir = os.path.join(package_dir, 'locales')
+          app.add_message_catalog(MESSAGE_CATALOG_NAME, locale_dir)
 
 #. Generate message catalog template ``*.pot`` file, usually in ``locale/``
    source directory, for example via `Babel`_:
diff --git a/sphinx/builders/latex/theming.py b/sphinx/builders/latex/theming.py
index 56f2735f0..d638639aa 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/latex/theming.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/latex/theming.py
@@ -66,19 +66,29 @@ class BuiltInTheme(Theme):
 class UserTheme(Theme):
     """A user defined LaTeX theme."""
 
+    REQUIRED_CONFIG_KEYS = ['docclass', 'wrapperclass']
+    OPTIONAL_CONFIG_KEYS = ['toplevel_sectioning']
+
     def __init__(self, name: str, filename: str) -> None:
-        self.name = name
+        super().__init__(name)
         self.config = configparser.RawConfigParser()
         self.config.read(path.join(filename))
 
-        try:
-            self.docclass = self.config.get('theme', 'docclass')
-            self.wrapperclass = self.config.get('theme', 'wrapperclass')
-            self.toplevel_sectioning = self.config.get('theme', 'toplevel_sectioning')
-        except configparser.NoSectionError:
-            raise ThemeError(__('%r doesn\'t have "theme" setting') % filename)
-        except configparser.NoOptionError as exc:
-            raise ThemeError(__('%r doesn\'t have "%s" setting') % (filename, exc.args[0]))
+        for key in self.REQUIRED_CONFIG_KEYS:
+            try:
+                value = self.config.get('theme', key)
+                setattr(self, key, value)
+            except configparser.NoSectionError:
+                raise ThemeError(__('%r doesn\'t have "theme" setting') % filename)
+            except configparser.NoOptionError as exc:
+                raise ThemeError(__('%r doesn\'t have "%s" setting') % (filename, exc.args[0]))
+
+        for key in self.OPTIONAL_CONFIG_KEYS:
+            try:
+                value = self.config.get('theme', key)
+                setattr(self, key, value)
+            except configparser.NoOptionError:
+                pass
 
 
 class ThemeFactory: