diff --git a/src/fontengine.cpp b/src/fontengine.cpp
index 7ae0f32e..b40e1ef0 100644
--- a/src/fontengine.cpp
+++ b/src/fontengine.cpp
@@ -332,32 +332,70 @@ void FontEngine::initFont(unsigned int basesize, FontMode mode)
 				font_path.c_str(), size, true, true, font_shadow,
 				font_shadow_alpha);
 
-		if (font != NULL) {
+		if (font) {
 			m_font_cache[mode][basesize] = font;
 			return;
 		}
 
-		// try fallback font
-		errorstream << "FontEngine: failed to load: " << font_path << ", trying to fall back "
-				"to fallback font" << std::endl;
+		if (font_config_prefix == "mono_") {
+			const std::string &mono_font_path = m_settings->getDefault("mono_font_path");
 
-		font_path = g_settings->get(font_config_prefix + "fallback_font_path");
+			if (font_path != mono_font_path) {
+				// try original mono font
+				errorstream << "FontEngine: failed to load custom mono "
+						"font: " << font_path << ", trying to fall back to "
+						"original mono font" << std::endl;
 
-		font = gui::CGUITTFont::createTTFont(m_env,
-			font_path.c_str(), size, true, true, font_shadow,
-			font_shadow_alpha);
+				font = gui::CGUITTFont::createTTFont(m_env,
+					mono_font_path.c_str(), size, true, true,
+					font_shadow, font_shadow_alpha);
 
-		if (font != NULL) {
-			m_font_cache[mode][basesize] = font;
-			return;
+				if (font) {
+					m_font_cache[mode][basesize] = font;
+					return;
+				}
+			}
+		} else {
+			// try fallback font
+			errorstream << "FontEngine: failed to load: " << font_path <<
+					", trying to fall back to fallback font" << std::endl;
+
+			font_path = g_settings->get(font_config_prefix + "fallback_font_path");
+
+			font = gui::CGUITTFont::createTTFont(m_env,
+				font_path.c_str(), size, true, true, font_shadow,
+				font_shadow_alpha);
+
+			if (font) {
+				m_font_cache[mode][basesize] = font;
+				return;
+			}
+
+			const std::string &fallback_font_path = m_settings->getDefault("fallback_font_path");
+
+			if (font_path != fallback_font_path) {
+				// try original fallback font
+				errorstream << "FontEngine: failed to load custom fallback "
+						"font: " << font_path << ", trying to fall back to "
+						"original fallback font" << std::endl;
+
+				font = gui::CGUITTFont::createTTFont(m_env,
+					fallback_font_path.c_str(), size, true, true,
+					font_shadow, font_shadow_alpha);
+
+				if (font) {
+					m_font_cache[mode][basesize] = font;
+					return;
+				}
+			}
 		}
 
 		// give up
 		errorstream << "FontEngine: failed to load freetype font: "
 				<< font_path << std::endl;
-		errorstream << "minetest can not continue without a valid font. Please correct "
-				"the 'font_path' setting or install the font file in the proper "
-				"location" << std::endl;
+		errorstream << "minetest can not continue without a valid font. "
+				"Please correct the 'font_path' setting or install the font "
+				"file in the proper location" << std::endl;
 		abort();
 	}
 #endif
@@ -459,7 +497,7 @@ void FontEngine::initSimpleFont(unsigned int basesize, FontMode mode)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (font != NULL) {
+	if (font) {
 		font->grab();
 		m_font_cache[mode][basesize] = font;
 	}
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index ea54ab34..0c34eb10 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -361,6 +361,18 @@ const SettingsEntry &Settings::getEntry(const std::string &name) const
 }
 
 
+const SettingsEntry &Settings::getEntryDefault(const std::string &name) const
+{
+	MutexAutoLock lock(m_mutex);
+
+	SettingEntries::const_iterator n;
+	if ((n = m_defaults.find(name)) == m_defaults.end()) {
+		throw SettingNotFoundException("Setting [" + name + "] not found.");
+	}
+	return n->second;
+}
+
+
 Settings *Settings::getGroup(const std::string &name) const
 {
 	const SettingsEntry &entry = getEntry(name);
@@ -379,6 +391,15 @@ const std::string &Settings::get(const std::string &name) const
 }
 
 
+const std::string &Settings::getDefault(const std::string &name) const
+{
+	const SettingsEntry &entry = getEntryDefault(name);
+	if (entry.is_group)
+		throw SettingNotFoundException("Setting [" + name + "] is a group.");
+	return entry.value;
+}
+
+
 bool Settings::getBool(const std::string &name) const
 {
 	return is_yes(get(name));
@@ -571,6 +592,17 @@ bool Settings::getEntryNoEx(const std::string &name, SettingsEntry &val) const
 }
 
 
+bool Settings::getEntryDefaultNoEx(const std::string &name, SettingsEntry &val) const
+{
+	try {
+		val = getEntryDefault(name);
+		return true;
+	} catch (SettingNotFoundException &e) {
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
+
 bool Settings::getGroupNoEx(const std::string &name, Settings *&val) const
 {
 	try {
@@ -593,6 +625,17 @@ bool Settings::getNoEx(const std::string &name, std::string &val) const
 }
 
 
+bool Settings::getDefaultNoEx(const std::string &name, std::string &val) const
+{
+	try {
+		val = getDefault(name);
+		return true;
+	} catch (SettingNotFoundException &e) {
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
+
 bool Settings::getFlag(const std::string &name) const
 {
 	try {
diff --git a/src/settings.h b/src/settings.h
index e01e8647..329a6114 100644
--- a/src/settings.h
+++ b/src/settings.h
@@ -129,8 +129,10 @@ public:
 	 ***********/
 
 	const SettingsEntry &getEntry(const std::string &name) const;
+	const SettingsEntry &getEntryDefault(const std::string &name) const;
 	Settings *getGroup(const std::string &name) const;
 	const std::string &get(const std::string &name) const;
+	const std::string &getDefault(const std::string &name) const;
 	bool getBool(const std::string &name) const;
 	u16 getU16(const std::string &name) const;
 	s16 getS16(const std::string &name) const;
@@ -160,8 +162,10 @@ public:
 	 ***************************************/
 
 	bool getEntryNoEx(const std::string &name, SettingsEntry &val) const;
+	bool getEntryDefaultNoEx(const std::string &name, SettingsEntry &val) const;
 	bool getGroupNoEx(const std::string &name, Settings *&val) const;
 	bool getNoEx(const std::string &name, std::string &val) const;
+	bool getDefaultNoEx(const std::string &name, std::string &val) const;
 	bool getFlag(const std::string &name) const;
 	bool getU16NoEx(const std::string &name, u16 &val) const;
 	bool getS16NoEx(const std::string &name, s16 &val) const;