diff --git a/src/servers/app/Desktop.cpp b/src/servers/app/Desktop.cpp
index c25a0d3f5b..20804b0b8e 100644
--- a/src/servers/app/Desktop.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/app/Desktop.cpp
@@ -526,7 +526,8 @@ Desktop::Init()
 	}
 
 	// now that the mode is set, see if we should increase the default font size
-	if (fSettings->DefaultPlainFont() == *gFontManager->DefaultPlainFont()) {
+	if (fSettings->DefaultPlainFont() == *gFontManager->DefaultPlainFont()
+			&& !fSettings->DidLoadSettings()) {
 		float fontSize = fSettings->DefaultPlainFont().Size();
 		gScreenManager->Lock();
 		Screen* screen = gScreenManager->ScreenAt(0);
diff --git a/src/servers/app/DesktopSettings.cpp b/src/servers/app/DesktopSettings.cpp
index aee25a5303..972f75f6cd 100644
--- a/src/servers/app/DesktopSettings.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/app/DesktopSettings.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ DesktopSettingsPrivate::DesktopSettingsPrivate(server_read_only_memory* shared)
 {
 	// if the on-disk settings are not complete, the defaults will be kept
 	_SetDefaults();
-	_Load();
+	fLoadStatus = _Load();
 }
 
 
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ DesktopSettingsPrivate::_Load()
 	status_t status = _GetPath(basePath);
 	if (status < B_OK)
 		return status;
+	int32 loadFailures = 0;
 
 	// read workspaces settings
 
@@ -137,8 +138,10 @@ DesktopSettingsPrivate::_Load()
 					i, &fWorkspaceMessages[i]) == B_OK) {
 				i++;
 			}
-		}
-	}
+		} else
+			loadFailures++;
+	} else
+		loadFailures++;
 
 	// read font settings
 
@@ -185,8 +188,10 @@ DesktopSettingsPrivate::_Load()
 				gDefaultHintingMode = hinting;
 
 			gFontManager->Unlock();
-		}
-	}
+		} else
+			loadFailures++;
+	} else
+		loadFailures++;
 
 	// read mouse settings
 
@@ -214,8 +219,10 @@ DesktopSettingsPrivate::_Load()
 					== B_OK) {
 				fAcceptFirstClick = acceptFirstClick;
 			}
-		}
-	}
+		} else
+			loadFailures++;
+	} else
+		loadFailures++;
 
 	// read appearance settings
 
@@ -308,8 +315,10 @@ DesktopSettingsPrivate::_Load()
 					fShared.colors[i] = B_TRANSPARENT_COLOR;
 				}
 			}
-		}
-	}
+		} else
+			loadFailures++;
+	} else
+		loadFailures++;
 
 	// read dragger settings
 
@@ -323,10 +332,12 @@ DesktopSettingsPrivate::_Load()
 		if (status == B_OK) {
 			if (settings.FindBool("show", &fShowAllDraggers) != B_OK)
 				fShowAllDraggers = true;
-		}
-	}
+		} else
+			loadFailures++;
+	} else
+		loadFailures++;
 
-	return B_OK;
+	return (loadFailures > 0) ? B_PARTIAL_READ : B_OK;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/servers/app/DesktopSettingsPrivate.h b/src/servers/app/DesktopSettingsPrivate.h
index 0aae7a48cb..7b061280ca 100644
--- a/src/servers/app/DesktopSettingsPrivate.h
+++ b/src/servers/app/DesktopSettingsPrivate.h
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ public:
 									server_read_only_memory* shared);
 								~DesktopSettingsPrivate();
 
+			bool				DidLoadSettings() const
+									{ return fLoadStatus == B_OK; }
 			status_t			Save(uint32 mask = kAllSettings);
 
 			void				SetDefaultPlainFont(const ServerFont& font);
@@ -102,6 +104,8 @@ private:
 			void				_ValidateWorkspacesLayout(int32& columns,
 									int32& rows) const;
 
+			status_t			fLoadStatus;
+
 			ServerFont			fPlainFont;
 			ServerFont			fBoldFont;
 			ServerFont			fFixedFont;