diff --git a/conf.d/desktop.mk b/conf.d/desktop.mk
index b150969d..a681fd64 100644
--- a/conf.d/desktop.mk
+++ b/conf.d/desktop.mk
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ distro/.desktop-base: distro/.installer use/syslinux/ui/vesamenu use/x11/xorg
 
 distro/.desktop-mini: distro/.desktop-base use/x11/xdm +power; @:
 
-mixin/desktop-installer: use/x11-autostart use/sound +net-eth +vmguest
-	@$(call add,SYSTEM_PACKAGES,fonts-ttf-google-croscore-arimo)
+mixin/desktop-installer: +net-eth +vmguest \
+	use/x11-autostart use/fonts/install2 use/sound
 	@$(call add,BASE_LISTS, \
 		$(call tags,(base || desktop) && (l10n || network)))
 	@$(call add,INSTALL2_PACKAGES,ntfs-3g)
diff --git a/features.in/fonts/config.mk b/features.in/fonts/config.mk
index 6f46d5c2..6f12d3e5 100644
--- a/features.in/fonts/config.mk
+++ b/features.in/fonts/config.mk
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ use/fonts:
 	@$(call xport,FONT_FEATURES_ENABLE)
 	@$(call xport,FONT_FEATURES_DISABLE)
 
+# standalone target to specify non-bitmap installer fonts
+use/fonts/install2:
+	@$(call add,SYSTEM_PACKAGES,fonts-ttf-google-croscore-arimo)
+
 # just stating that kernels and font habits are pretty individual
 use/fonts/zerg: use/fonts
 	@$(call set,FONT_FEATURES_ENABLE,antialias lcdfilter-default \
diff --git a/features.in/install2/config.mk b/features.in/install2/config.mk
index 291eee88..20c70dae 100644
--- a/features.in/install2/config.mk
+++ b/features.in/install2/config.mk
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ use/install2: use/stage2 sub/stage2@install2 use/metadata \
 use/install2/full: use/install2/packages use/install2/vmguest \
 	use/syslinux/localboot.cfg use/syslinux/ui/menu use/bootloader; @:
 
+# just an alias, better use its endpoint directly
+use/install2/fonts: use/fonts/install2
+
 # see also use/vmguest
 use/install2/vmguest: use/install2/kvm use/install2/vbox use/install2/vmware; @: