diff --git a/py/circuitpy_mpconfig.mk b/py/circuitpy_mpconfig.mk
index 780dd1d854..724151c4bd 100644
--- a/py/circuitpy_mpconfig.mk
+++ b/py/circuitpy_mpconfig.mk
@@ -458,6 +458,7 @@ CIRCUITPY_TERMINALIO ?= $(CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO)
 CFLAGS += -DCIRCUITPY_TERMINALIO=$(CIRCUITPY_TERMINALIO)
 
 CIRCUITPY_FONTIO ?= $(call enable-if-all,$(CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO) $(CIRCUITPY_TERMINALIO))
+CFLAGS += -DCIRCUITPY_FONTIO=$(CIRCUITPY_FONTIO)
 
 CIRCUITPY_TIME ?= 1
 CFLAGS += -DCIRCUITPY_TIME=$(CIRCUITPY_TIME)