diff --git a/config-verify.c b/config-verify.c
index f5bb00d..aca6944 100644
--- a/config-verify.c
+++ b/config-verify.c
@@ -156,12 +156,13 @@ conf_verify_color(keychain_t *chain, const struct yml_node *node)
 bool
 conf_verify_font(keychain_t *chain, const struct yml_node *node)
 {
-    static const struct attr_info attrs[] = {
-        {"family", true, &conf_verify_string},
-        {NULL, false, NULL},
-    };
+    if (!yml_is_scalar(node)) {
+        LOG_ERR("%s: font must be a fontconfig-formatted string",
+                conf_err_prefix(chain, node));
+        return false;
+    }
 
-    return conf_verify_dict(chain, node, attrs);
+    return true;
 }
 
 bool
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 63b4809..8c2a6d4 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ conf_to_color(const struct yml_node *node)
 struct font *
 conf_to_font(const struct yml_node *node)
 {
-    const struct yml_node *family = yml_get_value(node, "family");
-    return font_new(family != NULL ? yml_value_as_string(family) : "monospace");
+    return font_new(yml_value_as_string(node));
 }
 
 struct deco *