diff --git a/src/GUI/dialog.cxx b/src/GUI/dialog.cxx
index eb90de044..2515d18b1 100644
--- a/src/GUI/dialog.cxx
+++ b/src/GUI/dialog.cxx
@@ -258,6 +258,14 @@ GUIInfo::~GUIInfo ()
 FGDialog::FGDialog (SGPropertyNode * props)
     : _object(0)
 {
+    char* envp = ::getenv( "FG_FONTS" );
+    if ( envp != NULL ) {
+        _font_path.set( envp );
+    } else {
+        _font_path.set( globals->get_fg_root() );
+        _font_path.append( "Fonts" );
+    }
+
     display(props);
 }