diff --git a/darwin/fontbutton.m b/darwin/fontbutton.m
index 0b380117..8206459f 100644
--- a/darwin/fontbutton.m
+++ b/darwin/fontbutton.m
@@ -119,6 +119,27 @@ uiDarwinDefineControl(
 
 @end
 
+// we do not want font change events to be sent to any controls other than the font buttons
+// see main.m for more details
+BOOL fontButtonInhibitSendAction(SEL sel, id from, id to)
+{
+	if (sel != @selector(changeFont:))
+		return NO;
+	return ![to isKindOfClass:[fontButton class]];
+}
+
+// we do not want NSFontPanelValidation messages to be sent to any controls other than the font buttons when a font button is active
+// see main.m for more details
+BOOL fontButtonOverrideTargetForAction(SEL sel, id from, id to, id *override)
+{
+	if (activeFontButton == nil)
+		return NO;
+	if (sel != @selector(validModesForFontPanel:))
+		return NO;
+	*override = activeFontButton;
+	return YES;
+}
+
 uiFontButton *uiNewFontButton(void)
 {
 	uiFontButton *b;
diff --git a/darwin/main.m b/darwin/main.m
index 623deb99..08f33ab9 100644
--- a/darwin/main.m
+++ b/darwin/main.m
@@ -12,6 +12,29 @@ static BOOL canQuit = NO;
 	[super sendEvent:e];
 }
 
+// NSColorPanel always sends changeColor: to the first responder regardless of whether there's a target set on it
+// we can override it here (see colorbutton.m)
+// thanks to mikeash in irc.freenode.net/#macdev for informing me this is how the first responder chain is initiated
+// it turns out NSFontManager also sends changeFont: through this; let's inhibit that here too (see fontbutton.m)
+- (BOOL)sendAction:(SEL)sel to:(id)to from:(id)from
+{
+	if (fontButtonInhibitSendAction(sel, from, to))
+		return NO;
+	return [super sendAction:sel to:to from:from];
+}
+
+// likewise, NSFontManager also sends NSFontPanelValidation messages to the first responder, however it does NOT use sendAction:from:to:!
+// instead, it uses this one (thanks swillits in irc.freenode.net/#macdev)
+// we also need to override it (see fontbutton.m)
+- (id)targetForAction:(SEL)sel to:(id)to from:(id)from
+{
+	id override;
+
+	if (fontButtonOverrideTargetForAction(sel, from, to, &override))
+		return override;
+	return [super targetForAction:sel to:to from:from];
+}
+
 // hey look! we're overriding terminate:!
 // we're going to make sure we can go back to main() whether Cocoa likes it or not!
 // and just how are we going to do that, hm?
diff --git a/darwin/uipriv_darwin.h b/darwin/uipriv_darwin.h
index 9442083b..1c912188 100644
--- a/darwin/uipriv_darwin.h
+++ b/darwin/uipriv_darwin.h
@@ -83,3 +83,7 @@ extern void freeContext(uiDrawContext *);
 
 // drawtext.m
 extern void doDrawText(CGContextRef c, CGFloat cheight, double x, double y, uiDrawTextLayout *layout);
+
+// fontbutton.m
+extern BOOL fontButtonInhibitSendAction(SEL sel, id from, id to);
+extern BOOL fontButtonOverrideTargetForAction(SEL sel, id from, id to, id *override);