diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 84983c8..6a1c40f 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -25,3 +25,8 @@ patched font! See the `Powerline font installation instructions`__ for
 details.
 
 __ https://powerline.readthedocs.org/en/latest/installation/linux.html#font-installation
+
+Fontconfig
+----------
+
+In some distributions, Terminess Powerline is ignored by default and must be explicitly allowed. A fontconfig file is provided which enables it. Copy this file from the fontconfig directory to your home folder under `~/.config/fontconfig/conf.d` (create it if it doesn't exist) and re-run `fc-cache -vf`.
diff --git a/fontconfig/50-enable-terminess-powerline.conf b/fontconfig/50-enable-terminess-powerline.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3cdd278
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fontconfig/50-enable-terminess-powerline.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<?xml version="1.0"?>
+<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "fonts.dtd">
+<fontconfig>
+  <selectfont>
+    <acceptfont>
+      <pattern>
+        <patelt name="family"><string>terminess powerline</string></patelt>
+      </pattern>
+    </acceptfont>
+  </selectfont>
+</fontconfig>