diff --git a/kittens/choose_fonts/backend.py b/kittens/choose_fonts/backend.py
index f4adfe41f..ff49553e0 100644
--- a/kittens/choose_fonts/backend.py
+++ b/kittens/choose_fonts/backend.py
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ def render_family_sample(
     return ans
 
 
-ResolvedFace = Dict[Literal['family', 'spec'], str]
+ResolvedFace = Dict[Literal['family', 'spec', 'setting'], str]
 
 
 def spec_for_descriptor(d: Descriptor, font_size: float) -> str:
@@ -187,7 +187,10 @@ def resolved_faces(opts: Options) -> Dict[OptNames, ResolvedFace]:
     ans: Dict[OptNames, ResolvedFace] = {}
     def d(key: Literal['medium', 'bold', 'italic', 'bi'], opt_name: OptNames) -> None:
         descriptor = font_files[key]
-        ans[opt_name] = {'family': descriptor['family'], 'spec': spec_for_descriptor(descriptor, opts.font_size)}
+        ans[opt_name] = {
+                'family': descriptor['family'], 'spec': spec_for_descriptor(descriptor, opts.font_size),
+                'setting': getattr(opts, opt_name).created_from_string
+        }
     d('medium', 'font_family')
     d('bold', 'bold_font')
     d('italic', 'italic_font')
diff --git a/kittens/choose_fonts/faces.go b/kittens/choose_fonts/faces.go
index b972582b1..77b607f7c 100644
--- a/kittens/choose_fonts/faces.go
+++ b/kittens/choose_fonts/faces.go
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@ func (self *faces) on_enter(family string) error {
 		self.family = family
 		r := self.handler.listing.resolved_faces_from_kitty_conf
 		d := func(conf ResolvedFace, setting *string, defval string) {
-			*setting = utils.IfElse(family == conf.Family, conf.Spec, defval)
+			s := utils.IfElse(conf.Setting == "auto", "auto", conf.Spec)
+			*setting = utils.IfElse(family == conf.Family, s, defval)
 		}
 		d(r.Font_family, &self.settings.font_family, fmt.Sprintf(`family="%s"`, family))
 		d(r.Bold_font, &self.settings.bold_font, "auto")
diff --git a/kittens/choose_fonts/types.go b/kittens/choose_fonts/types.go
index e00ec2f19..11cbf01e6 100644
--- a/kittens/choose_fonts/types.go
+++ b/kittens/choose_fonts/types.go
@@ -76,8 +76,9 @@ type VariableData struct {
 }
 
 type ResolvedFace struct {
-	Family string `json:"family"`
-	Spec   string `json:"spec"`
+	Family  string `json:"family"`
+	Spec    string `json:"spec"`
+	Setting string `json:"setting"`
 }
 
 type ResolvedFaces struct {