diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/lrf/fonts/__init__.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/lrf/fonts/__init__.py
index ebd022bdd3..25ef8433b5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/lrf/fonts/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/lrf/fonts/__init__.py
@@ -12,24 +12,61 @@ except ImportError:
 '''
 Default fonts used in the PRS500
 '''
-from calibre.ebooks.lrf.fonts.prs500 import tt0003m_, tt0011m_, tt0419m_
+
+SYSTEM_FONT_PATH = '/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-liberation/'
 
 FONT_MAP = {
-            'Swis721 BT Roman'     : tt0003m_,
-            'Dutch801 Rm BT Roman' : tt0011m_,
-            'Courier10 BT Roman'   : tt0419m_,
+            'Swis721 BT Roman'     : 'tt0003m_',
+            'Dutch801 Rm BT Roman' : 'tt0011m_',
+            'Courier10 BT Roman'   : 'tt0419m_',
             }
+
+LIBERATION_FONT_MAP = {
+            'Swis721 BT Roman'     : 'LiberationSans_Regular',
+            'Dutch801 Rm BT Roman' : 'LiberationSerif_Regular',
+            'Courier10 BT Roman'   : 'LiberationMono_Regular',
+            }
+
+SYSTEM_FONT_MAP = {}
+for key, val in LIBERATION_FONT_MAP.items():
+    SYSTEM_FONT_MAP[key] = SYSTEM_FONT_PATH + val.replace('_', '-') + '.ttf'
+
 FONT_FILE_MAP = {}
 
 def get_font_path(name):
     if FONT_FILE_MAP.has_key(name) and os.access(FONT_FILE_MAP[name].name, os.R_OK):
         return FONT_FILE_MAP[name].name
-    p = PersistentTemporaryFile('.ttf', 'font_')
-    p.write(FONT_MAP[name].font_data)
-    p.close()
-    FONT_FILE_MAP[name] = p
-    return p.name
+
+    # translate font into file name
+    fname = FONT_MAP[name]
+
+    # first, check configuration in /etc/
+    etc_file = os.path.join(os.path.sep, 'etc', 'calibre', 'fonts', fname + '.ttf')
+    if os.access(etc_file, os.R_OK):
+        return etc_file
+
+    # then, try calibre shipped ones
+    try:
+        try:
+            font_mod = __import__('calibre.ebooks.lrf.fonts.prs500', {}, {}, 
+                                  [fname], -1)
+        except ImportError:
+            font_mod = __import__('calibre.ebooks.lrf.fonts.liberation', {}, {}, 
+                                  [LIBERATION_FONT_MAP[name]], -1)
+        p = PersistentTemporaryFile('.ttf', 'font_')
+        p.write(getattr(font_mod, fname).font_data)
+        p.close()
+        FONT_FILE_MAP[name] = p
+        return p.name
+    except ImportError:
+        pass
     
+    # finally, try system default ones
+    if SYSTEM_FONT_MAP.has_key(name) and os.access(SYSTEM_FONT_MAP[name], os.R_OK):
+        return SYSTEM_FONT_MAP[name]
+
+    # not found
+    raise SystemError, 'font %s (in file %s) not installed' % (name, fname)
 
 def get_font(name, size, encoding='unic'):
     '''