diff --git a/initialcon/__init__.py b/initialcon/__init__.py
index 1a20f0a..fc33025 100644
--- a/initialcon/__init__.py
+++ b/initialcon/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import hashlib
 import StringIO
-from os.path import abspath, dirname, join
+from os.path import abspath, dirname, join, isfile
+from sys import platform
 
 import PIL
 from PIL import ImageFont
@@ -12,20 +13,45 @@
 from django.conf.urls import patterns, url
 from django.conf import settings
 
-# A font is required
-fonts = getattr(settings, 'INITIALCON_FONTS', None)
-if fonts is None:
-    raise LookupError(
-        """
-            INITIALCON_FONTS must be configured in your settings.py
-            INITIALCON_FONTS = {
-                'default': '<pathtofont>',
-                'special': '<pathtofont>'
-            }
-        """)
-
-size_default = getattr(settings, 'INITIALCON_SIZE', 100)
-size_max = getattr(settings, 'INITIALCON_SIZE_MAX', 200)
+
+def get_font(font_name):
+    # Check if setting is path to font already
+    if '/' in font_name:
+        return font_name
+
+    # Get system font dirs
+    if platform == 'linux':
+        # Default dirs from https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Fonts#Manually
+        font_dirs = ['/usr/share/fonts', '/usr/local/share/fonts', '~/.fonts']
+    elif platform == 'darwin':
+        # Defaults dirs from http://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT201722
+        font_dirs = ['/Library/Fonts', '/System/Library/Fonts', '~/Library/Fonts']
+
+    # Find font file
+    ttf_font_name = '%s.ttf' % font_name
+    for font_dir in font_dirs:
+        candidate = join(font_dir, ttf_font_name)
+        if isfile(candidate):
+            return candidate
+
+    # Failing that, just return the name
+    return font_name
+
+
+# Default settings
+DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
+    'INITIALCON_SIZE': 100,
+    'INITIALCON_SIZE_MAX': 200,
+    'INITIALCON_FONTS': {
+        'default': 'Times New Roman',
+        'special': 'Arial Bold',
+    }
+}
+
+
+fonts = getattr(settings, 'INITIALCON_FONTS', DEFAULT_SETTINGS['INITIALCON_FONTS'])
+size_default = getattr(settings, 'INITIALCON_SIZE', DEFAULT_SETTINGS['INITIALCON_SIZE'])
+size_max = getattr(settings, 'INITIALCON_SIZE_MAX', DEFAULT_SETTINGS['INITIALCON_SIZE_MAX'])
 
 # Metro
 colors = getattr(settings, 'INITIALCON_COLORS', [
@@ -59,9 +85,9 @@ def generate(request, name):
     # Custom font
     font = request.GET.get('font', False)
     if font and font in fonts:
-        font = fonts[font]
+        font = get_font(fonts[font])
     else:
-        font = fonts.values()[0]
+        font = get_font(fonts.values()[0])
 
     # Consistent color based on name
     encoded = hashlib.md5(name)