diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/AppFont.java b/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/AppFont.java
index 8b19ae65..1ce1cd7a 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/AppFont.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/AppFont.java
@@ -58,7 +58,15 @@ public class AppFont {
         node.setStyle(node.getStyle() + "-fx-font-size: " + (baseSize + off) + "pt;");
     }
 
-    public static void loadFonts() {
+    public static void verifyFontLoadingFunctional() {
+        try {
+            Font.getDefault();
+        } catch (Throwable t) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Font loading is not working. Check whether your system is properly configured with fontconfig", t);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static void init() {
         TrackEvent.info("Loading fonts ...");
         AppResources.with(
                 AppResources.XPIPE_MODULE,
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/mode/OperationMode.java b/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/mode/OperationMode.java
index 25850bee..86059e11 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/mode/OperationMode.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/mode/OperationMode.java
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ public abstract class OperationMode {
             AppProperties.logSystemProperties();
             AppProperties.logPassedProperties();
             XPipeSystemId.init();
+            AppFont.verifyFontLoadingFunctional();
             TrackEvent.info("mode", "Finished initial setup");
         } catch (Throwable ex) {
             ErrorEvent.fromThrowable(ex).term().handle();
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/mode/PlatformMode.java b/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/mode/PlatformMode.java
index 40fd633e..12b1db6e 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/mode/PlatformMode.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/xpipe/app/core/mode/PlatformMode.java
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ public abstract class PlatformMode extends OperationMode {
 
         TrackEvent.info("mode", "Platform mode initial setup");
         PlatformState.initPlatformOrThrow();
-        AppFont.loadFonts();
+        AppFont.init();
         AppTheme.init();
         AppStyle.init();
         AppImages.init();