diff --git a/pkgs/applications/graphics/synfigstudio/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/graphics/synfigstudio/default.nix
index 034a147b7874..ba7a916e3fe4 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/graphics/synfigstudio/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/graphics/synfigstudio/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, boost, cairo, gettext, glibmm, gtk, gtkmm
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, boost, cairo, fontsConf, gettext, glibmm, gtk, gtkmm
 , libsigcxx, libtool, libxmlxx, pango, pkgconfig, imagemagick
 , intltool
 }:
@@ -42,10 +42,14 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     };
 
   buildInputs = [
-    ETL boost cairo gettext glibmm gtk gtkmm imagemagick intltool
+    ETL boost cairo fontsConf gettext glibmm gtk gtkmm imagemagick intltool
     intltool libsigcxx libtool libxmlxx pkgconfig synfig
   ];
 
+  preBuild = ''
+    export FONTCONFIG_FILE=${fontsConf}
+  '';
+
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     description = "A 2D animation program";
     homepage = http://www.synfig.org;
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index a671f50dc600..aa62043da2b1 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -9388,7 +9388,9 @@ let
     rake         = rake;
   };
 
-  synfigstudio = callPackage ../applications/graphics/synfigstudio { };
+  synfigstudio = callPackage ../applications/graphics/synfigstudio {
+    fontsConf = makeFontsConf { fontDirectories = [ freefont_ttf ]; };
+  };
 
   sxhkd = callPackage ../applications/window-managers/sxhkd { };