diff --git a/canvas.go b/canvas.go
index 92aa5e2..68ba849 100644
--- a/canvas.go
+++ b/canvas.go
@@ -442,20 +442,28 @@ func (cv *Canvas) SetLineWidth(width float64) {
 	cv.state.lineWidth = width
 }
 
-// SetFont sets the font and font size
+// SetFont sets the font and font size. The font parameter can be:
+// - a font loaded with the LoadFont function
+// - a string matching the name parameter on LoadFont
+// - a filename for a font to load which will be cached
+// - nil, in which case the first loaded font will be used
 func (cv *Canvas) SetFont(font interface{}, size float64) {
-	switch v := font.(type) {
-	case *Font:
-		cv.state.font = v
-	case *truetype.Font:
-		cv.state.font = &Font{font: v}
-	case string:
-		if f, ok := fonts[v]; ok {
-			cv.state.font = f
-		} else {
-			f, err := LoadFont(v, v)
-			if err == nil {
+	if font == nil {
+		cv.state.font = defaultFont
+	} else {
+		switch v := font.(type) {
+		case *Font:
+			cv.state.font = v
+		case *truetype.Font:
+			cv.state.font = &Font{font: v}
+		case string:
+			if f, ok := fonts[v]; ok {
 				cv.state.font = f
+			} else {
+				f, err := LoadFont(v, v)
+				if err == nil {
+					cv.state.font = f
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/text.go b/text.go
index 0e94047..097e5f2 100644
--- a/text.go
+++ b/text.go
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ type Font struct {
 var fonts = make(map[string]*Font)
 var zeroes [alphaTexSize]byte
 
+var defaultFont *Font
+
 func LoadFont(src interface{}, name string) (*Font, error) {
 	var f *Font
 	switch v := src.(type) {
@@ -47,12 +49,19 @@ func LoadFont(src interface{}, name string) (*Font, error) {
 	if name != "" {
 		fonts[name] = f
 	}
+	if defaultFont == nil {
+		defaultFont = f
+	}
 	return f, nil
 }
 
 func (cv *Canvas) FillText(str string, x, y float64) {
 	cv.activate()
 
+	if cv.state.font == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
 	frc := fontRenderingContext
 	frc.setFont(cv.state.font.font)
 	frc.setFontSize(float64(cv.state.fontSize))
@@ -129,6 +138,10 @@ type TextMetrics struct {
 }
 
 func (cv *Canvas) MeasureText(str string) TextMetrics {
+	if cv.state.font == nil {
+		return TextMetrics{}
+	}
+
 	frc := fontRenderingContext
 	frc.setFont(cv.state.font.font)
 	frc.setFontSize(float64(cv.state.fontSize))