diff --git a/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_object.py b/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_object.py
index 52af4fafd09..81a641a20cf 100644
--- a/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_object.py
+++ b/release/scripts/startup/bl_ui/properties_object.py
@@ -267,7 +267,8 @@ class OBJECT_PT_instancing(ObjectButtonsPanel, Panel):
     @classmethod
     def poll(cls, context):
         ob = context.object
-        return (ob.type in {'MESH', 'EMPTY', 'POINTCLOUD'})
+        # FONT objects need (vertex) instancing for the 'Object Font' feature
+        return (ob.type in {'MESH', 'EMPTY', 'POINTCLOUD', 'FONT'})
 
     def draw(self, context):
         layout = self.layout
diff --git a/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_object.c b/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_object.c
index d3cd3158db1..99865078cbe 100644
--- a/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_object.c
+++ b/source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_object.c
@@ -224,6 +224,12 @@ static EnumPropertyItem instance_items_empty[] = {
     INSTANCE_ITEM_COLLECTION,
     {0, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL},
 };
+
+static EnumPropertyItem instance_items_font[] = {
+    {0, "NONE", 0, "None", ""},
+    {OB_DUPLIVERTS, "VERTS", 0, "Vertices", "Use Object Font on characters"},
+    {0, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL},
+};
 #endif
 #undef INSTANCE_ITEMS_SHARED
 #undef INSTANCE_ITEM_COLLECTION
@@ -762,6 +768,9 @@ static const EnumPropertyItem *rna_Object_instance_type_itemf(bContext *UNUSED(C
   else if (ob->type == OB_POINTCLOUD) {
     item = instance_items_pointcloud;
   }
+  else if (ob->type == OB_FONT) {
+    item = instance_items_font;
+  }
   else {
     item = instance_items_nogroup;
   }