3 files changed, 20 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 873e2dfd1dc..2bec8de0ea4 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ in its NEWS.)
 
 * Changes in Emacs 26.2
 
+---
+** New variable 'xft-ignore-color-fonts'.
+Default t means don't try to load color fonts when using Xft, as they
+often cause crashes.  Set it to nil if you really need those fonts.
+(Bug#30874)
+
 
 * Editing Changes in Emacs 26.2
 
diff --git a/src/font.c b/src/font.c
index e53935a15cc..305bb14576a 100644
--- a/src/font.c
+++ b/src/font.c
@@ -5476,6 +5476,13 @@ Disabling compaction of font caches might enlarge the Emacs memory
 footprint in sessions that use lots of different fonts.  */);
   inhibit_compacting_font_caches = 0;
 
+  DEFVAR_BOOL ("xft-ignore-color-fonts",
+	       Vxft_ignore_color_fonts,
+	       doc: /*
+Non-nil means don't query fontconfig for color fonts, since they often
+cause Xft crashes.  Only has an effect in Xft builds.  */);
+  Vxft_ignore_color_fonts = 1;
+
 #ifdef HAVE_WINDOW_SYSTEM
 #ifdef HAVE_FREETYPE
   syms_of_ftfont ();
diff --git a/src/ftfont.c b/src/ftfont.c
index c2e093e633d..24a92dd52e8 100644
--- a/src/ftfont.c
+++ b/src/ftfont.c
@@ -764,6 +764,13 @@ ftfont_spec_pattern (Lisp_Object spec, char *otlayout, struct OpenTypeSpec **ots
   if (scalable >= 0
       && ! FcPatternAddBool (pattern, FC_SCALABLE, scalable ? FcTrue : FcFalse))
     goto err;
+#ifdef HAVE_XFT
+  /* We really don't like color fonts, they cause Xft crashes.  See
+     Bug#30874.  */
+  if (Vxft_ignore_color_fonts
+      && ! FcPatternAddBool(pattern, FC_COLOR, FcFalse))
+    goto err;
+#endif
 
   goto finish;