diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/config.py b/qutebrowser/config/config.py
index 1102fb93a..ed6b126ef 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/config.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/config.py
@@ -611,6 +611,8 @@ def init(parent=None):
     val = ConfigContainer(instance)
     key_instance = KeyConfig(instance)
 
+    configtypes.Font.monospace_fonts = val.fonts.monospace
+
     config_commands = ConfigCommands(instance, key_instance)
     objreg.register('config-commands', config_commands)
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
index f5a6f742a..9afbc2c77 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
@@ -39,11 +39,6 @@ DATA = None
 
 # FIXME:conf what to do about this?
 DEFAULT_FONT_SIZE = '10pt' if sys.platform == 'darwin' else '8pt'
-MONOSPACE = (' xos4 Terminus, Terminus, Monospace, '
-             '"DejaVu Sans Mono", Monaco, '
-             '"Bitstream Vera Sans Mono", "Andale Mono", '
-             '"Courier New", Courier, "Liberation Mono", '
-             'monospace, Fixed, Consolas, Terminal')
 
 
 Option = collections.namedtuple('Option', ['name', 'typ', 'default',
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.yml b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.yml
index 66be6b7a9..6751b233b 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.yml
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.yml
@@ -1685,7 +1685,11 @@ fonts.monospace:
     Vera Sans Mono", "Andale Mono", "Courier New", Courier, "Liberation Mono", monospace,
     Fixed, Consolas, Terminal
   type: Font
-  desc: Default monospace fonts.
+  desc: >-
+    Default monospace fonts.
+
+    Whenever "monospace" is used in a font setting, it\'s replaced with the
+    fonts listed here.
 
 fonts.completion.entry:
   default: 8pt monospace
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configtypes.py b/qutebrowser/config/configtypes.py
index 24722f510..e266bd38a 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configtypes.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configtypes.py
@@ -849,6 +849,8 @@ class Font(BaseType):
     * Size: _number_ `px`/`pt`
     """
 
+    # Gets set when the config is initialized.
+    monospace_fonts = None
     font_regex = re.compile(r"""
         ^(
             (
@@ -875,6 +877,8 @@ class Font(BaseType):
             # as family.
             raise configexc.ValidationError(value, "must be a valid font")
 
+        if value.endswith(' monospace') and self.monospace_fonts is not None:
+            return value.replace('monospace', self.monospace_fonts)
         return value
 
 
@@ -955,6 +959,8 @@ class QtFont(Font):
         # hopefully nobody will ever have a font with quotes in the family (if
         # that's even possible), we take a much more naive approach.
         family = family.replace('"', '').replace("'", '')
+        if family == 'monospace':
+            family = self.monospace_fonts
         font.setFamily(family)
         return font
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/config/test_configtypes.py b/tests/unit/config/test_configtypes.py
index 7101f7b9f..99acd3097 100644
--- a/tests/unit/config/test_configtypes.py
+++ b/tests/unit/config/test_configtypes.py
@@ -1260,6 +1260,16 @@ class TestFont:
         with pytest.raises(configexc.ValidationError):
             klass().to_py(val)
 
+    def test_monospace_replacement(self, klass, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(configtypes.Font, 'monospace_fonts', 'Terminus')
+        if klass is configtypes.Font:
+            expected = '10pt Terminus'
+        elif klass is configtypes.QtFont:
+            desc = FontDesc(QFont.StyleNormal, QFont.Normal, 10, None,
+                            'Terminus'),
+            expected = Font.fromdesc(*desc)
+        assert klass().to_py('10pt monospace') == expected
+
 
 class TestFontFamily: