diff --git a/cde/programs/dtwm/WmResource.c b/cde/programs/dtwm/WmResource.c
index 7c3d49c87..af86d8cf0 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtwm/WmResource.c
+++ b/cde/programs/dtwm/WmResource.c
@@ -4433,7 +4433,17 @@ MakeAppearanceResources (WmScreenData *pSD, AppearanceData *pAData, Boolean make
     {
 	sprintf((char *)wmGD.tmpBuffer, ((char *)GETMESSAGE(62, 23, "failed to load font: %.100s\0")), (char*) pAData->fontList);
 	Warning((char *)wmGD.tmpBuffer);
+#if defined(CSRG_BASED) || defined(linux)
+	/* HACK to try get _some_ font anyway (fontList seems to end up as an empty list on
+         * some modern systems; investigate) */
+        pAData->font = XLoadQueryFont(wmGD.display, "fixed");
+	if (pAData->font == NULL) {
+	    ExitWM(WM_ERROR_EXIT_VALUE);
+	}
+#else
 	ExitWM(WM_ERROR_EXIT_VALUE);
+#endif
+
     }
 
 #ifndef NO_MULTIBYTE