diff --git a/gnucash/report/gnc-report.c b/gnucash/report/gnc-report.c
index 9701338676..96727e96fe 100644
--- a/gnucash/report/gnc-report.c
+++ b/gnucash/report/gnc-report.c
@@ -336,7 +336,9 @@ gnc_get_default_report_font_family(void)
 
     pango_font_description_free (font_desc);
 
-    if (g_str_has_prefix (default_font_family, ".AppleSystemUIFont"))
+    if (!default_font_family)
+        return g_strdup ("Arial");
+    else if (g_str_has_prefix (default_font_family, ".AppleSystemUIFont"))
     {
         g_free (default_font_family);
         return g_strdup ("Arial");