diff --git a/src/font_cache/font_cache.c b/src/font_cache/font_cache.c
index 9754f352..44fea4d1 100644
--- a/src/font_cache/font_cache.c
+++ b/src/font_cache/font_cache.c
@@ -141,16 +141,22 @@ fnt_tag_from_path(String8 path)
   }
   
   //- rjf: allocate & push new node if we don't have an existing one
-  FNT_FontHashNode *new_node = 0;
   if(existing_node == 0)
   {
+    FP_Handle handle = fp_font_open(path);
     FNT_FontHashSlot *slot = &fnt_state->font_hash_table[slot_idx];
-    new_node = push_array(fnt_state->permanent_arena, FNT_FontHashNode, 1);
-    new_node->tag = result;
-    new_node->handle = fp_font_open(path);
-    new_node->metrics = fp_metrics_from_font(new_node->handle);
-    new_node->path = push_str8_copy(fnt_state->permanent_arena, path);
-    SLLQueuePush_N(slot->first, slot->last, new_node, hash_next);
+    existing_node = push_array(fnt_state->permanent_arena, FNT_FontHashNode, 1);
+    existing_node->tag = result;
+    existing_node->handle = handle;
+    existing_node->metrics = fp_metrics_from_font(existing_node->handle);
+    existing_node->path = push_str8_copy(fnt_state->permanent_arena, path);
+    SLLQueuePush_N(slot->first, slot->last, existing_node, hash_next);
+  }
+  
+  //- rjf: tag result must be zero if this is not a valid font
+  if(fp_handle_match(existing_node->handle, fp_handle_zero()))
+  {
+    MemoryZeroStruct(&result);
   }
   
   //- rjf: return
diff --git a/src/font_provider/dwrite/font_provider_dwrite.c b/src/font_provider/dwrite/font_provider_dwrite.c
index 4770ebba..ebf81ff4 100644
--- a/src/font_provider/dwrite/font_provider_dwrite.c
+++ b/src/font_provider/dwrite/font_provider_dwrite.c
@@ -318,18 +318,64 @@ fp_font_open(String8 path)
 {
   ProfBeginFunction();
   Temp scratch = scratch_begin(0, 0);
-  String16 path16 = str16_from_8(scratch.arena, path);
   FP_DWrite_Font font = {0};
   HRESULT error = 0;
   
-  //- rjf: open font file reference
-  error = IDWriteFactory_CreateFontFileReference(fp_dwrite_state->factory, (WCHAR *)path16.str, 0, &font.file);
+  //- rjf: build initial path task
+  typedef struct PathTask PathTask;
+  struct PathTask
+  {
+    PathTask *next;
+    String8 path;
+  };
+  PathTask start_task = {0, path};
+  PathTask *first_task = &start_task;
+  PathTask *last_task = first_task;
   
-  //- rjf: open font face
-  error = IDWriteFactory_CreateFontFace(fp_dwrite_state->factory, DWRITE_FONT_FACE_TYPE_TRUETYPE, 1, &font.file, 0, DWRITE_FONT_SIMULATIONS_NONE, &font.face);
+  //- rjf: try to open font
+  for(PathTask *t = first_task; t != 0 && font.file == 0; t = t->next)
+  {
+    String16 path16 = str16_from_8(scratch.arena, t->path);
+    error = IDWriteFactory_CreateFontFileReference(fp_dwrite_state->factory, (WCHAR *)path16.str, 0, &font.file);
+    error = IDWriteFactory_CreateFontFace(fp_dwrite_state->factory, DWRITE_FONT_FACE_TYPE_TRUETYPE, 1, &font.file, 0, DWRITE_FONT_SIMULATIONS_NONE, &font.face);
+    
+    // rjf: failure trying just the normal path? -> generate new tasks that search in system folders
+    if(t == first_task && font.file == 0)
+    {
+      // rjf: generate task for user-installed fonts
+      {
+        HKEY reg_key = 0;
+        LSTATUS status = 0;
+        char name[256] = {0};
+        char data[256] = {0};
+        DWORD name_size = sizeof(name);
+        DWORD data_size = sizeof(data);
+        DWORD type = 0;
+        status = RegOpenKeyExW(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, L"Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Shell Folders\\Fonts", 0, KEY_QUERY_VALUE, &reg_key);
+        status = RegEnumValueA(reg_key, 0, name, &name_size, 0, &type, data, &data_size);
+        String8 user_fonts_path = str8_cstring(data);
+        PathTask *task = push_array(scratch.arena, PathTask, 1);
+        task->path = push_str8f(scratch.arena, "%s/%S", user_fonts_path, path);
+        SLLQueuePush(first_task, last_task, task);
+      }
+      
+      // rjf: generate task for windows directory (C:/Windows/Fonts, generally)
+      {
+        char windows_path[256] = {0};
+        GetWindowsDirectoryA(windows_path, sizeof(windows_path));
+        PathTask *task = push_array(scratch.arena, PathTask, 1);
+        task->path = push_str8f(scratch.arena, "%s/Fonts/%S", windows_path, path);
+        SLLQueuePush(first_task, last_task, task);
+      }
+    }
+  }
   
   //- rjf: handlify & return
-  FP_Handle handle = fp_dwrite_handle_from_font(font);
+  FP_Handle handle = {0};
+  if(font.file != 0)
+  {
+    handle = fp_dwrite_handle_from_font(font);
+  }
   scratch_end(scratch);
   ProfEnd();
   return handle;
diff --git a/src/raddbg/generated/raddbg.meta.c b/src/raddbg/generated/raddbg.meta.c
index 0a4ace89..339f75e6 100644
--- a/src/raddbg/generated/raddbg.meta.c
+++ b/src/raddbg/generated/raddbg.meta.c
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ RD_VocabInfo rd_vocab_info_table[319] =
 
 RD_NameSchemaInfo rd_name_schema_info_table[22] =
 {
-{str8_lit_comp("user"), str8_lit_comp("x:\n{\n  //- rjf: animations\n  @default(1)  'hover_animations':     bool,\n  @default(1)  'press_animations':     bool,\n  @default(0)  'focus_animations':     bool,\n  @default(1)  'tooltip_animations':   bool,\n  @default(1)  'menu_animations':      bool,\n  @default(1)  'scrolling_animations': bool,\n\n  //- rjf: fonts\n  'main_font': string,\n  'code_font': string,\n\n  //- rjf: colors\n  @display_name('Color Preset')\n  'color_preset': string,\n  @display_name('Color File')\n  'color_file': path,\n  @display_name('Colors')\n  'colors': query,\n\n  //- rjf: thread & breakpoint decorations\n  @default(1) @display_name('Thread Lines') @description(\"Controls whether or not a long horizontal line is drawn before the next line or instruction that the selected thread will execute in source and disassembly views.\")\n  'thread_lines': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Thread Glow') @description(\"Controls whether or not a glowing effect is drawn on the selected thread in source and disassembly views.\")\n  'thread_glow': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Breakpoint Lines') @description(\"Controls whether or not a long horizontal line is drawn before the line or instruction at which a breakpoint is placed, in source and disassembly views.\")\n  'breakpoint_lines': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Breakpoint Glow') @description(\"Controls whether or not a glowing effect is drawn on breakpoints in source and disassembly views.\")\n  'breakpoint_glow': bool,\n\n  //- rjf: occluding background settings\n  @default(0) @display_name('Opaque Backgrounds') @description(\"Controls whether or not all floating background colors are forced to be fully opaque.\")\n  'opaque_backgrounds': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Background Blur') @description(\"Controls whether or not occluded regions behind floating elements are blurred.\")\n  'background_blur': bool,\n\n  //- rjf: appearance settings\n  @default(1) @display_name('Drop Shadows') @description(\"Controls whether or not drop shadows are drawn.\")\n  'drop_shadows': bool,\n  @default(1.f) @display_name('Rounded Corner Amount') @description(\"Controls the degree to which UI corners are rounded.\")\n  'rounded_corner_amount': @range[0, 1] f32,\n\n  //- rjf: code formatting settings\n  @default(2) @display_name('User Tab Width') 'tab_width': @range[1, 32] u64,\n\n  //- rjf: windows style menu bar\n  @default(1) @display_name('Focus Menu Bar With Alt') @description(\"Mimics standard Windows behavior of focusing the menu bar using the Alt key.\")\n  'focus_menu_bar_with_alt': bool,\n}\n")},
+{str8_lit_comp("user"), str8_lit_comp("x:\n{\n  //- rjf: animations\n  @default(1)  'hover_animations':     bool,\n  @default(1)  'press_animations':     bool,\n  @default(0)  'focus_animations':     bool,\n  @default(1)  'tooltip_animations':   bool,\n  @default(1)  'menu_animations':      bool,\n  @default(1)  'scrolling_animations': bool,\n\n  //- rjf: fonts\n  @display_name('UI Font') @description(\"The name or path to the font used when displaying non-code UI elements.\")\n  'main_font': string,\n  @display_name('Code Font') @description(\"The name or path to the font used when displaying code.\")\n  'code_font': string,\n\n  //- rjf: colors\n  @display_name('Color Preset')\n  'color_preset': string,\n  @display_name('Color File')\n  'color_file': path,\n  @display_name('Colors')\n  'colors': query,\n\n  //- rjf: thread & breakpoint decorations\n  @default(1) @display_name('Thread Lines') @description(\"Controls whether or not a long horizontal line is drawn before the next line or instruction that the selected thread will execute in source and disassembly views.\")\n  'thread_lines': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Thread Glow') @description(\"Controls whether or not a glowing effect is drawn on the selected thread in source and disassembly views.\")\n  'thread_glow': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Breakpoint Lines') @description(\"Controls whether or not a long horizontal line is drawn before the line or instruction at which a breakpoint is placed, in source and disassembly views.\")\n  'breakpoint_lines': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Breakpoint Glow') @description(\"Controls whether or not a glowing effect is drawn on breakpoints in source and disassembly views.\")\n  'breakpoint_glow': bool,\n\n  //- rjf: occluding background settings\n  @default(0) @display_name('Opaque Backgrounds') @description(\"Controls whether or not all floating background colors are forced to be fully opaque.\")\n  'opaque_backgrounds': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Background Blur') @description(\"Controls whether or not occluded regions behind floating elements are blurred.\")\n  'background_blur': bool,\n\n  //- rjf: appearance settings\n  @default(1) @display_name('Drop Shadows') @description(\"Controls whether or not drop shadows are drawn.\")\n  'drop_shadows': bool,\n  @default(1.f) @display_name('Rounded Corner Amount') @description(\"Controls the degree to which UI corners are rounded.\")\n  'rounded_corner_amount': @range[0, 1] f32,\n\n  //- rjf: code formatting settings\n  @default(2) @display_name('User Tab Width') 'tab_width': @range[1, 32] u64,\n\n  //- rjf: windows style menu bar\n  @default(1) @display_name('Focus Menu Bar With Alt') @description(\"Mimics standard Windows behavior of focusing the menu bar using the Alt key.\")\n  'focus_menu_bar_with_alt': bool,\n}\n")},
 {str8_lit_comp("project"), str8_lit_comp("x:\n{\n  @default(2) @display_name('Project Tab Width') 'tab_width': @range[1, 32] u64,\n  @default(1) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Control-C Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0x40010005\")\n  win32_ctrl_c: bool;\n  @default(1) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Control-Break Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0x40010008\")\n  win32_ctrl_break: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 WinRT Originate Error Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0x40080201\")\n  win32_win_rt_originate_error: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 WinRT Transform Error Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0x40080202\")\n  win32_win_rt_transform_error: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 RPC Call Cancelled Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0x0000071a\")\n  win32_rpc_call_cancelled: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Data Type Misalignment Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0x80000002\")\n  win32_datatype_misalignment: bool;\n  @default(1) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Access Violation Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000005\")\n  win32_access_violation: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 In Page Error Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000006\")\n  win32_in_page_error: bool;\n  @default(1) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Invalid Handle Specified Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000008\")\n  win32_invalid_handle: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Not Enough Quota Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000017\")\n  win32_not_enough_quota: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Illegal Instruction Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc000001d\")\n  win32_illegal_instruction: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Cannot Continue From Exception Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000025\")\n  win32_cannot_continue_exception: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Invalid Exception Disposition Returned By Handler Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000026\")\n  win32_invalid_exception_disposition: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Array Bounds Exceeded Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc000008c\")\n  win32_array_bounds_exceeded: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating-Point Denormal Operand Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc000008d\")\n  win32_floating_point_denormal_operand: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating-Point Division By Zero Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc000008e\")\n  win32_floating_point_division_by_zero: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating-Point Inexact Result Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc000008f\")\n  win32_floating_point_inexact_result: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating-Point Invalid Operation Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000090\")\n  win32_floating_point_invalid_operation: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating-Point Overflow Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000091\")\n  win32_floating_point_overflow: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating-Point Stack Check Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000092\")\n  win32_floating_point_stack_check: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating-Point Underflow Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000093\")\n  win32_floating_point_underflow: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Integer Division By Zero Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000094\")\n  win32_integer_division_by_zero: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Integer Overflow Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000095\")\n  win32_integer_overflow: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Privileged Instruction Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000096\")\n  win32_privileged_instruction: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Stack Overflow Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc00000fd\")\n  win32_stack_overflow: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Unable To Locate DLL Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000135\")\n  win32_unable_to_locate_dll: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Ordinal Not Found Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000138\")\n  win32_ordinal_not_found: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Entry Point Not Found Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000139\")\n  win32_entry_point_not_found: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 DLL Initialization Failed Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000142\")\n  win32_dll_initialization_failed: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating Point SSE Multiple Faults Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc00002b4\")\n  win32_floating_point_sse_multiple_faults: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Floating Point SSE Multiple Traps Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc00002b5\")\n  win32_floating_point_sse_multiple_traps: bool;\n  @default(1) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Assertion Failed Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc0000420\")\n  win32_assertion_failed: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Module Not Found Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc06d007e\")\n  win32_module_not_found: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Procedure Not Found Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xc06d007f\")\n  win32_procedure_not_found: bool;\n  @default(1) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Sanitizer Error Detected Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xe073616e\")\n  win32_sanitizer_error_detected: bool;\n  @default(0) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 Sanitizer Raw Access Violation Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0xe0736171\")\n  win32_sanitizer_raw_access_violation: bool;\n  @default(1) @display_name(\"Break On Win32 DirectX Debug Layer Exceptions\") @description(\"Code: 0x0000087a\")\n  win32_directx_debug_layer: bool;\n}\n")},
 {str8_lit_comp("color"), str8_lit_comp("@collection_commands(add_color, import_colors) x:\n{\n  @display_name('Tags') tags: string,\n  @display_name('Value') value: @color @hex u32,\n}\n")},
 {str8_lit_comp("window"), str8_lit_comp("x:\n{\n  //- rjf: text rasterization settings\n  @default(1) @display_name('Smooth UI Text') @description(\"Controls whether or not UI text is fully anti-aliased, for a smoother appearance.\")\n  'smooth_ui_text': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Hint UI Text') @description(\"Controls whether or not UI text is hinted, for better text readability at small sizes.\")\n  'hint_ui_text': bool,\n  @default(0) @display_name('Smooth Code Text') @description(\"Controls whether or not code text is fully anti-aliased, for a smoother appearance.\")\n  'smooth_code_text': bool,\n  @default(1) @display_name('Hint Code Text') @description(\"Controls whether or not code text is hinted, for better text readability at small sizes.\")\n  'hint_code_text': bool,\n  @default(11) @display_name('Window Font Size') @description(\"Controls the window's default font size. Does not apply to tabs with their own font size set.\")\n  'font_size': @range[6, 72] u64,\n\n  //- rjf: size settings\n  @default(3.f) @display_name('Window Row Height') @description(\"Controls the window's default row height, in multiples of the font size. Does not apply to tabs with their own row height set.\")\n  'row_height': @range[1.75f, 5.f] f32,\n  @default(3.f) @description(\"Controls the height of tabs, in multiples of the font size.\")\n  'tab_height': @range[1.75f, 5.f] f32,\n}\n")},
diff --git a/src/raddbg/raddbg.mdesk b/src/raddbg/raddbg.mdesk
index 554dbcaf..77fb96be 100644
--- a/src/raddbg/raddbg.mdesk
+++ b/src/raddbg/raddbg.mdesk
@@ -225,8 +225,10 @@ RD_VocabTable:
       @default(1)  'scrolling_animations': bool,
       
       //- rjf: fonts
-      'main_font': string,
-      'code_font': string,
+      @display_name('UI Font') @description("The name or path to the font used when displaying non-code UI elements.")
+        'main_font': string,
+      @display_name('Code Font') @description("The name or path to the font used when displaying code.")
+        'code_font': string,
       
       //- rjf: colors
       @display_name('Color Preset')
diff --git a/src/raddbg/raddbg_core.c b/src/raddbg/raddbg_core.c
index c180c27a..973e5741 100644
--- a/src/raddbg/raddbg_core.c
+++ b/src/raddbg/raddbg_core.c
@@ -10394,7 +10394,11 @@ rd_font_from_slot(RD_FontSlot slot)
   
   // rjf: map name -> tag
   FNT_Tag result = {0};
-  if(font_name.size == 0)
+  if(font_name.size != 0)
+  {
+    result = fnt_tag_from_path(font_name);
+  }
+  if(font_name.size == 0 || fnt_tag_match(fnt_tag_zero(), result))
   {
     switch(slot)
     {
@@ -10404,11 +10408,6 @@ rd_font_from_slot(RD_FontSlot slot)
       case RD_FontSlot_Icons:{result = fnt_tag_from_static_data_string(&rd_icon_font_bytes);}break;
     }
   }
-  else
-  {
-    // TODO(rjf): need to handle "system font names" here.
-    result = fnt_tag_from_path(font_name);
-  }
   return result;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/raddbg/raddbg_main.c b/src/raddbg/raddbg_main.c
index 4783e43e..a6c1515f 100644
--- a/src/raddbg/raddbg_main.c
+++ b/src/raddbg/raddbg_main.c
@@ -207,10 +207,6 @@
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: Hot, Medium Priority Tasks (Low-Hanging-Fruit Features, UI Jank, Cleanup)
 //
-// [ ] Setting the code_font/main_font values to a font name doesn't work.
-//     Should probably make note that you have to set it to a path to a TTF,
-//     since that's not normally how Windows fonts work.
-//
 // [ ] "root" concept in hash store, which buckets keys & allows usage code to
 //     jettison a collection of keys in retained mode fashion
 //
@@ -422,6 +418,9 @@
 //     size dynamically
 // [x] automatically start search query with selected text
 // [x] @feature processor/data breakpoints
+// [x] Setting the code_font/main_font values to a font name doesn't work.
+//     Should probably make note that you have to set it to a path to a TTF,
+//     since that's not normally how Windows fonts work.
 
 ////////////////////////////////
 //~ rjf: Build Options