diff --git a/Tusker/Screens/Compose/ComposeViewController.swift b/Tusker/Screens/Compose/ComposeViewController.swift
index 1e277833..ae100243 100644
--- a/Tusker/Screens/Compose/ComposeViewController.swift
+++ b/Tusker/Screens/Compose/ComposeViewController.swift
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ class ComposeViewController: UIViewController {
             stackView.insertArrangedSubview(replyLabelContainer, at: 1)
         }
         
+        // we have to set the font here, because the monospaced digit font is not available in IB
+        charactersRemainingLabel.font = .monospacedDigitSystemFont(ofSize: 17, weight: .regular)
         updateCharactersRemaining()
         updatePlaceholder()