diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index ab6cb1057..ce2721df3 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -505,9 +505,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(install-libxf86config,
 				[Install libxf86config (default: disabled)]),
 				[INSTALL_LIBXF86CONFIG=$enableval],
 				[INSTALL_LIBXF86CONFIG=no])
-AC_ARG_ENABLE(builtin-fonts,  AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-builtin-fonts], [Use only built-in fonts (default: use external)]),
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(builtin-fonts,  AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-builtin-fonts], [Use only built-in fonts (default: yes)]),
                                 [BUILTIN_FONTS=$enableval],
-                                [BUILTIN_FONTS=no])
+                                [BUILTIN_FONTS=yes])
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(null-root-cursor, AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-null-root-cursor], [Use an empty root cursor (default: use core cursor)]),
                                  [NULL_ROOT_CURSOR=$enableval],
                                  [NULL_ROOT_CURSOR=no])