diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4d49649..1255ddc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ options:
 	@echo "CC      = $(CC)"
 
 config.h:
-	cp config.def.h config.h
+	sed "s/HOSTNAME/$(shell cat /etc/hostname)/; \
+		s/FONT/\"$(shell ../getfont.sh freedesktop)\"/" \
+		config.def.h > config.h
 
 .c.o:
 	$(CC) $(STCFLAGS) -c $<
diff --git a/README b/README
index 6a846ed..e84606f 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ Installation
 Edit config.mk to match your local setup (st is installed into
 the /usr/local namespace by default).
 
+Copy config.def.h to config.h and replace `FONT` with font of choice.
+
 Afterwards enter the following command to build and install st (if
 necessary as root):
 
diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 26ce030..d8aaa72 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  *
  * font: see http://freedesktop.org/software/fontconfig/fontconfig-user.html
  */
-static char *font = "Inconsolata:pixelsize=17:antialias=true:autohint=true";
+static char *font = FONT;
 static int borderpx = 2;
 
 /*