diff --git a/workspace/all/common/api.c b/workspace/all/common/api.c
index 19f3f5439..900e9fc69 100644
--- a/workspace/all/common/api.c
+++ b/workspace/all/common/api.c
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ static SDL_Rect asset_rects[ASSET_COUNT];
 static uint32_t asset_rgbs[ASSET_COLORS];
 static SDL_Rect input_rects[INPUT_COUNT];
 GFX_Fonts font;
+static int system_font_face_style = TTF_STYLE_NORMAL;
 
 ///////////////////////////////
 
@@ -324,6 +325,9 @@ int GFX_loadSystemFont(const char *fontPath)
 	font.tiny = TTF_OpenFont(fontPath, SCALE1(FONT_TINY));
 	font.micro = TTF_OpenFont(fontPath, SCALE1(FONT_MICRO));
 
+	// This value is only intrinsic before the configured style is applied.
+	system_font_face_style = font.large ? TTF_GetFontStyle(font.large) : TTF_STYLE_NORMAL;
+
 	TTF_SetFontStyle(font.large, CFG_getFontStyle());
 	TTF_SetFontStyle(font.medium, CFG_getFontStyle());
 	TTF_SetFontStyle(font.small, CFG_getFontStyle());
@@ -333,6 +337,11 @@ int GFX_loadSystemFont(const char *fontPath)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+int GFX_getSystemFontFaceStyle(void)
+{
+	return system_font_face_style;
+}
+
 int GFX_updateColors(void)
 {
 	// We are currently micro managing all of these screen-mapped colors,
diff --git a/workspace/all/common/api.h b/workspace/all/common/api.h
index 828af8271..a7a986726 100644
--- a/workspace/all/common/api.h
+++ b/workspace/all/common/api.h
@@ -308,6 +308,9 @@ enum {
 };
 
 SDL_Surface* GFX_init(int mode);
+// Style reported by SDL_ttf immediately after opening the current font face,
+// before NextUI applies its configured synthetic style.
+int GFX_getSystemFontFaceStyle(void);
 #define GFX_resize PLAT_resizeVideo				// (int w, int h, int pitch);
 #define GFX_setSharpness PLAT_setSharpness // (int sharpness)
 #define GFX_setEffectColor PLAT_setEffectColor // (int color)
diff --git a/workspace/all/common/config.c b/workspace/all/common/config.c
index e1ec3ba7b..6dd676161 100644
--- a/workspace/all/common/config.c
+++ b/workspace/all/common/config.c
@@ -1286,7 +1286,9 @@ int CFG_getFontStyle(void)
 
 void CFG_setFontStyle(int style)
 {
-    settings.fontStyle = clamp(style, 0x00, 0x01);
+    // SDL_ttf defines TTF_STYLE_NORMAL as 0x00 and TTF_STYLE_BOLD as 0x01.
+    // Use the values directly to keep config.c free of SDL dependencies.
+    settings.fontStyle = (style & 0x01) ? 0x01 : 0x00;
     CFG_sync();
     // reload the font to apply the new style (if the font supports it)
     CFG_setFontFile(CFG_getFontFile());
diff --git a/workspace/all/settings/settings.cpp b/workspace/all/settings/settings.cpp
index 7a3eeda49..5202c7c81 100644
--- a/workspace/all/settings/settings.cpp
+++ b/workspace/all/settings/settings.cpp
@@ -421,14 +421,31 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             font_values.push_back(f.filename);
             font_labels.push_back(f.label);
         }
+
+        MenuItem *fontStyleItem = nullptr;
+        auto resetFontStyleToFaceDefault = [&fontStyleItem]() {
+            const int faceStyle = GFX_getSystemFontFaceStyle();
+            const int style = (faceStyle & TTF_STYLE_BOLD)
+                ? TTF_STYLE_BOLD
+                : TTF_STYLE_NORMAL;
+            CFG_setFontStyle(style);
+            if (fontStyleItem)
+                fontStyleItem->reselect();
+        };
+        auto selectFont = [&resetFontStyleToFaceDefault](const char *filename) {
+            CFG_setFontFile(filename);
+            resetFontStyleToFaceDefault();
+        };
+
         appearanceItems.push_back(new MenuItem{ListItemType::Generic, "Font", "The font to render all UI text.", font_values, font_labels,
             []() -> std::any { return std::string(CFG_getFontFile()); },
-            [](const std::any &value) { CFG_setFontFile(std::any_cast<std::string>(value).c_str()); },
-            []() { CFG_setFontFile(CFG_DEFAULT_FONT_FILE); }});
-        appearanceItems.push_back(new MenuItem{ListItemType::Generic, "Font style", "The style to render the UI font (e.g. bold)", std::vector<std::any>{0, 1}, std::vector<std::string>{"Normal", "Bold"},
+            [&selectFont](const std::any &value) { selectFont(std::any_cast<std::string>(value).c_str()); },
+            [&selectFont]() { selectFont(CFG_DEFAULT_FONT_FILE); }});
+        fontStyleItem = new MenuItem{ListItemType::Generic, "Font style", "The style to render the UI font (e.g. bold)", std::vector<std::any>{TTF_STYLE_NORMAL, TTF_STYLE_BOLD}, std::vector<std::string>{"Normal", "Bold"},
             []() -> std::any { return CFG_getFontStyle(); },
             [](const std::any &value) { CFG_setFontStyle(std::any_cast<int>(value)); },
-            []() { CFG_setFontStyle(CFG_DEFAULT_FONT_STYLE); }});
+            [&resetFontStyleToFaceDefault]() { resetFontStyleToFaceDefault(); }};
+        appearanceItems.push_back(fontStyleItem);
         appearanceItems.push_back(buildPaletteMenuItem());
         for (auto *item : colorMenuItems)
             appearanceItems.push_back(item);