diff --git a/common/fonts.py b/common/fonts.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..99387a058
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/fonts.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+#
+# This file is part of pi-stomp.
+#
+# pi-stomp is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# pi-stomp is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with pi-stomp.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+FONTS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "fonts"
+
+
+def font_path(name: str) -> str:
+    """Return the absolute path to a bundled font by filename."""
+    return str(FONTS_DIR / name)
diff --git a/emulator/__init__.py b/emulator/__init__.py
index 472fb2ea9..5f9f4a0a8 100644
--- a/emulator/__init__.py
+++ b/emulator/__init__.py
@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from PIL import ImageFont
 
-_FONTS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "fonts"
+from common.fonts import FONTS_DIR
+
 _orig_truetype = ImageFont.truetype
 
 
 def _resolve_truetype(font=None, size=10, **kwargs):
     if isinstance(font, str) and not Path(font).is_absolute() and not Path(font).exists():
-        candidate = _FONTS_DIR / font
+        candidate = FONTS_DIR / font
         if candidate.exists():
             font = str(candidate)
     return _orig_truetype(font, size, **kwargs)
diff --git a/pistomp-testui.py b/pistomp-testui.py
index 0dd7b0ace..76171a044 100755
--- a/pistomp-testui.py
+++ b/pistomp-testui.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 
 import random
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
 lcd = LcdIli9341(board.SPI(),
                  digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.CE0),
                  digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.D6),
@@ -81,7 +83,7 @@ def do_param_dialog(event, data):
 
 def do_main_screen():
 
-    title_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 26)
+    title_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 26)
     display_width = 320
     display_height = 240
     plugin_width = 79
diff --git a/pistomp/lcd128x64.py b/pistomp/lcd128x64.py
index 6992d2581..1a9def2fa 100755
--- a/pistomp/lcd128x64.py
+++ b/pistomp/lcd128x64.py
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@
 
 from pistomp.footswitch import Footswitch
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
+
 class Lcd(ABC):
 
     def __init__(self, cwd):
@@ -91,12 +94,12 @@ def __init__(self, cwd):
                      ImageDraw.Draw(self.images[6]), ImageDraw.Draw(self.images[7])]
 
         # Load fonts
-        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 18)
-        self.title_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 11)
-        self.label_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 10)
-        self.small_bold_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSansMono-Bold.ttf", 8)
-        self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSansMono.ttf", 8)
-        #self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype(os.path.join(cwd, "fonts", "EtBt6001-JO47.ttf"), 6)
+        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 18)
+        self.title_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 11)
+        self.label_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 10)
+        self.small_bold_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSansMono-Bold.ttf"), 8)
+        self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSansMono.ttf"), 8)
+        #self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("EtBt6001-JO47.ttf"), 6)
 
         # Splash
         text_im = Image.new('L', (103, 63))
diff --git a/pistomp/lcd135x240.py b/pistomp/lcd135x240.py
index 66e65705c..9af39ddac 100755
--- a/pistomp/lcd135x240.py
+++ b/pistomp/lcd135x240.py
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 import adafruit_rgb_display.st7789 as st7789
 
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
+
 class Lcd(ABC):
 
     def __init__(self, cwd):
@@ -69,9 +72,9 @@ def __init__(self, cwd):
 
         # Font
         self.font_size = 30
-        self.font = ImageFont.truetype('/usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSans.ttf', self.font_size)
+        self.font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), self.font_size)
         self.splash_font_size = 40
-        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype('/usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSans.ttf', self.splash_font_size)
+        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), self.splash_font_size)
 
         # Splash
         self.splash_show()
diff --git a/pistomp/lcd320x240.py b/pistomp/lcd320x240.py
index 77fa9612e..92f9509e7 100644
--- a/pistomp/lcd320x240.py
+++ b/pistomp/lcd320x240.py
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
 
 #import traceback
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
+
 class Lcd(abstract_lcd.Lcd):
 
     def __init__(self, cwd, handler=None, flip=False, display=None, spi_speed_mhz=24):
@@ -84,10 +87,10 @@ def __init__(self, cwd, handler=None, flip=False, display=None, spi_speed_mhz=24
         }
 
         # TODO get fonts from config.json
-        self.title_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 26)
-        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype('DejaVuSans.ttf', 48)
-        self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans.ttf", 20)
-        self.tiny_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans.ttf", 16)
+        self.title_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 26)
+        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 48)
+        self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 20)
+        self.tiny_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 16)
         self.title_split_orig = 190
         self.title_split = self.title_split_orig
         self.display_width = 320
diff --git a/pistomp/lcdgfx.py b/pistomp/lcdgfx.py
index 80a763461..1261d7095 100755
--- a/pistomp/lcdgfx.py
+++ b/pistomp/lcdgfx.py
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 
 from pistomp.footswitch import Footswitch  # TODO would like to avoid this module knowing such details
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
 
 class Lcd(abstract_lcd.Lcd):
     __single = None
@@ -95,12 +97,12 @@ def __init__(self, cwd, lcd=None, backlight=None, touch=None):
                      ImageDraw.Draw(self.images[6]), ImageDraw.Draw(self.images[7])]
 
         # Load fonts
-        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 18)
-        self.title_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 11)
-        self.label_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 10)
-        self.small_bold_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSansMono-Bold.ttf", 8)
-        #self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSansMono.ttf", 8)
-        self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype(os.path.join(cwd, "fonts", "EtBt6001-JO47.ttf"), 6)
+        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 18)
+        self.title_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 11)
+        self.label_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 10)
+        self.small_bold_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSansMono-Bold.ttf"), 8)
+        #self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSansMono.ttf"), 8)
+        self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("EtBt6001-JO47.ttf"), 6)
 
         # Splash
         text_im = Image.new('L', (103, 63))
diff --git a/pistomp/lcdili9341.py b/pistomp/lcdili9341.py
index a092e5c61..f2c6df057 100755
--- a/pistomp/lcdili9341.py
+++ b/pistomp/lcdili9341.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 # Most draw methods should be implemented in the parent class unless that needs to be overriden for this display
 # All __init__ parameters from the lcdbase.py should be specified in this __init__
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
 
 class Lcd(lcdcolor.Lcdcolor):
 
@@ -50,11 +52,11 @@ def __init__(self, cwd, mod=None, flip=False):
         self.init_spi_display()
 
         # Fonts
-        self.title_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 26)
-        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype('DejaVuSans.ttf', 48)
-        self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans.ttf", 20)
-        self.tiny_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans.ttf", 16)
-        #self.tiny_font = ImageFont.truetype(os.path.join(cwd, "fonts", "EtBt6001-JO47.ttf"), 12)
+        self.title_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 26)
+        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 48)
+        self.small_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 20)
+        self.tiny_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 16)
+        #self.tiny_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("EtBt6001-JO47.ttf"), 12)
 
         # Colors
         self.background = (0, 0, 0)
diff --git a/pistomp/lcdsy7789.py b/pistomp/lcdsy7789.py
index e50b41f71..5471d2833 100755
--- a/pistomp/lcdsy7789.py
+++ b/pistomp/lcdsy7789.py
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
 
 import ST7789
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
+
 class Lcd(ABC):
 
     def __init__(self, cwd):
@@ -61,9 +64,9 @@ def __init__(self, cwd):
 
         # Font
         self.font_size = 26
-        self.font = ImageFont.truetype('/usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSans.ttf', self.font_size)
+        self.font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), self.font_size)
         self.splash_font_size = 40
-        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype('/usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSans.ttf', self.splash_font_size)
+        self.splash_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), self.splash_font_size)
 
         # Turn on the backlight
         backlight = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.D22)
diff --git a/pistomp/tuner/panel.py b/pistomp/tuner/panel.py
index a21f118d5..09fb87909 100644
--- a/pistomp/tuner/panel.py
+++ b/pistomp/tuner/panel.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 
 from PIL import ImageFont
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
 from uilib.box import Box
 from uilib.config import Config
 from uilib.misc import get_text_size
@@ -347,7 +349,7 @@ def __init__(
         super().__init__(box=Box.xywh(0, 0, _W, 240), auto_destroy=True)
         self._engine = engine
 
-        note_font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 56)
+        note_font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 56)
         btn_font = Config().get_font("default")
         _, btn_text_h = get_text_size("Mute", btn_font)
         btn_v_margin = max(0, (_BTN_H - btn_text_h) // 2)
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 216d41214..dbcede28e 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import pytest
 from PIL import Image, ImageFont
 
+from common.fonts import FONTS_DIR as _FONTS_DIR
 from uilib.panel import LcdBase
 
 PROJECT_ROOT = Path(__file__).parent.parent
@@ -54,9 +55,6 @@
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-_FONTS_DIR = PROJECT_ROOT / "fonts"
-
-
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def force_basic_layout(monkeypatch):
     original = ImageFont.truetype
@@ -158,7 +156,7 @@ def inject(self, raw: str) -> None:
 
     def sent_values_for(self, instance_id: str, symbol: str) -> list[float]:
         prefix = f"param_set /graph/{instance_id}/{symbol} "
-        return [float(m[len(prefix):]) for m in self.sent if m.startswith(prefix)]
+        return [float(m[len(prefix) :]) for m in self.sent if m.startswith(prefix)]
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
diff --git a/ui/wifi_menu.py b/ui/wifi_menu.py
index e6610513a..c2a7a5bc4 100644
--- a/ui/wifi_menu.py
+++ b/ui/wifi_menu.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
 from PIL import ImageFont
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
 import common.util as util
 from modalapi.wifi import (
     ConnectSavedCmd,
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ def __init__(self, ssid: str, pstack, on_submit: PasswordCallback) -> None:
         self._on_submit = on_submit
         self._curline = ''
 
-        font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans.ttf", 18)
+        font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 18)
         box = Box(0, 0, 300, 80)
         box = box.centre(pstack.box)
         super().__init__(box=box, parent=pstack, auto_destroy=True)
diff --git a/uilib/config.py b/uilib/config.py
index d4cc3540f..17b2df74f 100644
--- a/uilib/config.py
+++ b/uilib/config.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 import json
 from PIL import ImageFont
 
+from common.fonts import font_path, FONTS_DIR
+
 
 class Config:
     _instance = None
@@ -40,9 +42,9 @@ def __init__(self, config_json=None):
 
     def _set_defaults(self):
         if "default" not in self.fonts:
-            add_font("default", "DejaVuSans.ttf", 16)
+            add_font("default", font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 16)
         if "default_title" not in self.fonts:
-            add_font("default_title", "DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf", 16)
+            add_font("default_title", font_path("DejaVuSans-Bold.ttf"), 16)
         if "default_fgnd" not in self.colors:
             add_color("default_fgnd", (255, 255, 255))
         if "default_bkgnd" not in self.colors:
@@ -90,7 +92,8 @@ def load_config(self, json_file, reset_old=True):
                 except KeyError as e:
                     print("Error loading font:", e)
                 else:
-                    self.add_font(l, n, s)
+                    candidate = FONTS_DIR / n
+                    self.add_font(l, str(candidate) if candidate.exists() else n, s)
         if "colors" in data:
             colors = data["colors"]
             for color_def in colors:
diff --git a/uilib/font_with_glyphs.py b/uilib/font_with_glyphs.py
index e33ba253c..28da515d7 100644
--- a/uilib/font_with_glyphs.py
+++ b/uilib/font_with_glyphs.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 
 from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
 
 @runtime_checkable
 class Glyph(Protocol):
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ class PillGlyph:
 
     def __init__(self, label: str, font_size: int = 9) -> None:
         self._label = label
-        self._font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans.ttf", font_size)
+        self._font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), font_size)
         bb = self._font.getbbox(label)
         self._text_w = int(bb[2] - bb[0])
         self._text_h = int(bb[3] - bb[1])
diff --git a/uilib/text.py b/uilib/text.py
index 8ea551770..a63a16fec 100644
--- a/uilib/text.py
+++ b/uilib/text.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 from math import log
 from PIL import ImageFont
 
+from common.fonts import font_path
+
 from uilib.panel import *
 from uilib.misc import *
 from uilib.config import *
@@ -135,7 +137,7 @@ def __init__(self, widget):
         self.set_outline(2, (255,255,255))
         self.outline = 2
         self.curline = widget.text
-        self.font = ImageFont.truetype("DejaVuSans.ttf", 18)
+        self.font = ImageFont.truetype(font_path("DejaVuSans.ttf"), 18)
         bbox = self.font.getbbox(widget.edit_message)
         msg_w, msg_h = bbox[2] - bbox[0], bbox[3]
         msg_box = Box.xywh(10, 10, msg_w, msg_h)