diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index c2b67aa60..655d0a9cf 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ struct sway_config {
 	uint32_t resizing_key;
 	enum swayc_layouts default_orientation;
 	enum swayc_layouts default_layout;
+	char *font;
 
 	// Flags
 	bool focus_follows_mouse;
diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index ae5c48e64..8fec1223c 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ static sway_cmd cmd_floating;
 static sway_cmd cmd_floating_mod;
 static sway_cmd cmd_focus;
 static sway_cmd cmd_focus_follows_mouse;
+static sway_cmd cmd_font;
 static sway_cmd cmd_for_window;
 static sway_cmd cmd_fullscreen;
 static sway_cmd cmd_gaps;
@@ -1822,6 +1823,26 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_log_colors(int argc, char **argv) {
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
+static struct cmd_results *cmd_font(int argc, char **argv) {
+	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "font", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 1))) {
+		return error;
+	}
+
+	char *font = join_args(argv, argc);
+	if (strlen(font) > 6 && strncmp("pango:", font, 6) == 0) {
+		free(config->font);
+		config->font = font;
+		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Settings font %s", config->font);
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
+	} else {
+		free(font);
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "font", "non-pango font detected");
+	}
+
+}
+
+
 static struct cmd_results *cmd_for_window(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
 	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "for_window", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 2))) {
@@ -1978,6 +1999,7 @@ static struct cmd_handler handlers[] = {
 	{ "floating_modifier", cmd_floating_mod },
 	{ "focus", cmd_focus },
 	{ "focus_follows_mouse", cmd_focus_follows_mouse },
+	{ "font", cmd_font },
 	{ "for_window", cmd_for_window },
 	{ "fullscreen", cmd_fullscreen },
 	{ "gaps", cmd_gaps },
diff --git a/sway/config.c b/sway/config.c
index c4614521b..65dba365e 100644
--- a/sway/config.c
+++ b/sway/config.c
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ static void free_config(struct sway_config *config) {
 	list_free(config->output_configs);
 
 	list_free(config->active_bar_modifiers);
+	free(config->font);
 	free(config);
 }
 
@@ -149,6 +150,8 @@ static void config_defaults(struct sway_config *config) {
 	config->resizing_key = M_RIGHT_CLICK;
 	config->default_layout = L_NONE;
 	config->default_orientation = L_NONE;
+	config->font = strdup("pango:monospace 10");
+
 	// Flags
 	config->focus_follows_mouse = true;
 	config->mouse_warping = true;
@@ -879,7 +882,7 @@ struct bar_config *default_bar_config(void) {
 	bar->bindings = create_list();
 	bar->status_command = strdup("while :; do date +'%Y-%m-%d %l:%M:%S %p' && sleep 1; done");
 	bar->swaybar_command = NULL;
-	bar->font = strdup("pango:monospace 10");
+	bar->font = NULL;
 	bar->height = -1;
 	bar->workspace_buttons = true;
 	bar->separator_symbol = NULL;
diff --git a/sway/ipc-server.c b/sway/ipc-server.c
index 58a291cd4..63a6d7036 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-server.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-server.c
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ json_object *ipc_json_describe_bar_config(struct bar_config *bar) {
 		break;
 	}
 	json_object_object_add(json, "status_command", json_object_new_string(bar->status_command));
-	json_object_object_add(json, "font", json_object_new_string(bar->font));
+	json_object_object_add(json, "font", json_object_new_string(bar->font ? bar->font : config->font));
 	if (bar->separator_symbol) {
 		json_object_object_add(json, "separator_symbol", json_object_new_string(bar->separator_symbol));
 	}