diff --git a/Configuration.cpp b/Configuration.cpp
index 4e454a4f5..e0441ba9e 100644
--- a/Configuration.cpp
+++ b/Configuration.cpp
@@ -380,8 +380,6 @@ private:
   bool load_audio_devices (QAudio::Mode, QComboBox *, QAudioDeviceInfo *);
   void update_audio_channels (QComboBox const *, int, QComboBox *, bool);
 
-  void set_application_font (QFont const&);
-
   void initialize_models ();
   bool split_mode () const
   {
@@ -621,6 +619,7 @@ QColor Configuration::color_MyCall () const {return m_->color_MyCall_;}
 QColor Configuration::color_TxMsg () const {return m_->color_TxMsg_;}
 QColor Configuration::color_DXCC () const {return m_->color_DXCC_;}
 QColor Configuration::color_NewCall () const {return m_->color_NewCall_;}
+QFont Configuration::text_font () const {return m_->font_;}
 QFont Configuration::decoded_text_font () const {return m_->decoded_text_font_;}
 qint32 Configuration::id_interval () const {return m_->id_interval_;}
 qint32 Configuration::ntrials() const {return m_->ntrials_;}
@@ -1179,13 +1178,12 @@ void Configuration::impl::read_settings ()
       && next_font_ != font_)
     {
       font_ = next_font_;
+      Q_EMIT self_->text_font_changed (font_);
     }
   else
     {
       next_font_ = font_;
     }
-  set_application_font (font_);
-
   if (next_decoded_text_font_.fromString (settings_->value ("DecodedTextFont", "Courier, 10").toString ())
       && next_decoded_text_font_ != decoded_text_font_)
     {
@@ -1694,7 +1692,7 @@ void Configuration::impl::accept ()
   if (next_font_ != font_)
     {
       font_ = next_font_;
-      set_application_font (font_);
+      Q_EMIT self_->text_font_changed (font_);
     }
 
   if (next_decoded_text_font_ != decoded_text_font_)
@@ -2633,18 +2631,6 @@ void Configuration::impl::update_audio_channels (QComboBox const * source_combo_
     }
 }
 
-void Configuration::impl::set_application_font (QFont const& font)
-{
-  qApp->setFont (font);
-  // set font in the application style sheet as well in case it has
-  // been modified in the style sheet which has priority
-  qApp->setStyleSheet (qApp->styleSheet () + "* {" + font_as_stylesheet (font) + '}');
-  for (auto& widget : qApp->topLevelWidgets ())
-    {
-      widget->updateGeometry ();
-    }
-}
-
 // load all the supported rig names into the selection combo box
 void Configuration::impl::enumerate_rigs ()
 {
diff --git a/Configuration.hpp b/Configuration.hpp
index 9298d5920..b0c219167 100644
--- a/Configuration.hpp
+++ b/Configuration.hpp
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ public:
 
   QString my_callsign () const;
   QString my_grid () const;
+  QFont text_font () const;
   QFont decoded_text_font () const;
   qint32 id_interval () const;
   qint32 ntrials() const;
@@ -211,9 +212,10 @@ public:
 
 
   //
-  // This signal indicates that a font has been selected and accepted
-  // for the decoded text.
+  // These signals indicate a font has been selected and accepted for
+  // the application text and decoded text respectively.
   //
+  Q_SIGNAL void text_font_changed (QFont);
   Q_SIGNAL void decoded_text_font_changed (QFont);
 
   //
diff --git a/mainwindow.cpp b/mainwindow.cpp
index 865bcfce5..b86293786 100644
--- a/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -551,8 +551,13 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QDir const& temp_directory, bool multiple,
   connect(ui->decodedTextBrowser,SIGNAL(selectCallsign(bool,bool)),this,
           SLOT(doubleClickOnCall2(bool,bool)));
 
-  // initialise decoded text font and hook up change signal
-  setDecodedTextFont (m_config.decoded_text_font ());
+  // initialize decoded text font and hook up font change signals
+  // defer initialization until after construction otherwise menu
+  // fonts do not get set
+  QTimer::singleShot (0, this, SLOT (initialize_fonts ()));
+  connect (&m_config, &Configuration::text_font_changed, [this] (QFont const& font) {
+      set_application_font (font);
+    });
   connect (&m_config, &Configuration::decoded_text_font_changed, [this] (QFont const& font) {
       setDecodedTextFont (font);
     });
@@ -894,6 +899,12 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QDir const& temp_directory, bool multiple,
   if (!m_valid) throw std::runtime_error {"Fatal initialization exception"};
 }
 
+void MainWindow::initialize_fonts ()
+{
+  set_application_font (m_config.text_font ());
+  setDecodedTextFont (m_config.decoded_text_font ());
+}
+
 void MainWindow::splash_done ()
 {
   m_splash && m_splash->close ();
@@ -1093,6 +1104,18 @@ void MainWindow::readSettings()
   if (displayMsgAvg) on_actionMessage_averaging_triggered();
 }
 
+void MainWindow::set_application_font (QFont const& font)
+{
+  qApp->setFont (font);
+  // set font in the application style sheet as well in case it has
+  // been modified in the style sheet which has priority
+  qApp->setStyleSheet (qApp->styleSheet () + "* {" + font_as_stylesheet (font) + '}');
+  for (auto& widget : qApp->topLevelWidgets ())
+    {
+      widget->updateGeometry ();
+    }
+}
+
 void MainWindow::setDecodedTextFont (QFont const& font)
 {
   ui->decodedTextBrowser->setContentFont (font);
diff --git a/mainwindow.h b/mainwindow.h
index d726c6d9e..d6ff16cfc 100644
--- a/mainwindow.h
+++ b/mainwindow.h
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ protected:
   bool eventFilter(QObject *, QEvent *) override;
 
 private slots:
+  void initialize_fonts ();
   void on_tx1_editingFinished();
   void on_tx2_editingFinished();
   void on_tx3_editingFinished();
@@ -571,6 +572,7 @@ private:
 
   //---------------------------------------------------- private functions
   void readSettings();
+  void set_application_font (QFont const&);
   void setDecodedTextFont (QFont const&);
   void writeSettings();
   void createStatusBar();