diff --git a/core/core-osx.el b/core/core-osx.el
index 4fa98ef46..9fd4c2b81 100644
--- a/core/core-osx.el
+++ b/core/core-osx.el
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 ;; Don't open files from the workspace in a new frame
 (setq ns-pop-up-frames nil)
 
+(setq ns-antialias-text nil)
+
 ;; fix emacs PATH on OSX (GUI only)
 (use-package exec-path-from-shell
   :if (memq window-system '(mac ns))
diff --git a/core/core-ui.el b/core/core-ui.el
index 52e91edb7..46bb72ed5 100644
--- a/core/core-ui.el
+++ b/core/core-ui.el
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
   ;; No transparency!
   (set-frame-parameter nil 'alpha 96)
 
+  (unless (member *default-font (font-family-list))
+    (defconst *default-font *alt-font))
+
   (unless (member *default-font (font-family-list))
     (error "Font %s isn't installed" *default-font))
 
@@ -81,7 +84,7 @@
   (progn
     (setq sml/no-confirm-load-theme t
           sml/mode-width      'full
-          sml/extra-filler    (if window-system 1 0)
+          sml/extra-filler    (if window-system -1 0)
           sml/show-remote     nil
           sml/modified-char   "*"
           sml/encoding-format nil)