diff --git a/stylix/fonts.nix b/stylix/fonts.nix
index 4d5dbb72..1234df1a 100644
--- a/stylix/fonts.nix
+++ b/stylix/fonts.nix
@@ -58,7 +58,12 @@ in
         mkFontSizeOption =
           { default, target }:
           lib.mkOption {
-            inherit default;
+            default = if builtins.isInt default then default else cfg.sizes.${default};
+            defaultText =
+              if builtins.isInt default then
+                default
+              else
+                lib.literalExpression "config.stylix.fonts.sizes.${default}";
 
             description = ''
               The font size used for ${target}.
@@ -94,12 +99,12 @@ in
 
         terminal = mkFontSizeOption {
           target = "terminals and text editors";
-          default = cfg.sizes.applications;
+          default = "applications";
         };
 
         popups = mkFontSizeOption {
           target = "notifications, popups, and other overlay elements of the desktop";
-          default = cfg.sizes.desktop;
+          default = "desktop";
         };
       };