diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/MultiLineLabel.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/MultiLineLabel.java
index 422f3bc8..71ba8abd 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/MultiLineLabel.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/MultiLineLabel.java
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ public class MultiLineLabel extends JComponent
     protected int _constrainedSize;
 
     /** Whether to render the label with anti-aliasing. */
-    protected boolean _antialiased;
+    protected boolean _antialiased = SwingUtil.getDefaultTextAntialiasing();
 
     /** Whether this label is dirty and should be re-layed out. */
     protected boolean _dirty = true;
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/util/SwingUtil.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/util/SwingUtil.java
index 566d4869..a832b3a8 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/util/SwingUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/swing/util/SwingUtil.java
@@ -439,6 +439,16 @@ public class SwingUtil
         gfx.setRenderingHints((RenderingHints)rock);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns true if anti-aliasing is desired by default. This currently checks the value of the
+     * <code>swing.aatext</code> property, but will someday switch to using Java Desktop Properties
+     * which in theory get their values from OS preferences.
+     */
+    public static boolean getDefaultTextAntialiasing ()
+    {
+        return _defaultTextAntialiasing;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Adjusts the widths and heights of the cells of the supplied table to fit their contents.
      */
@@ -631,4 +641,14 @@ public class SwingUtil
 
     /** Used by {@link #addDebugBorders}. */
     protected static Random _rando = new Random();
+
+    /** Used by {@link #getDefaultTextAntialiasing}. */
+    protected static boolean _defaultTextAntialiasing;
+    static {
+        try {
+            _defaultTextAntialiasing = Boolean.getBoolean("swing.aatext");
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            // security exception due to running in a sandbox, no problem
+        }
+    }
 }