diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/fontBuilder.py b/Lib/fontTools/fontBuilder.py
index 7e578ffe7..ba3c4eb9f 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/fontBuilder.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/fontBuilder.py
@@ -498,7 +498,10 @@ class FontBuilder(object):
             defaults = _maxpDefaultsOTF
         self._initTableWithValues("maxp", defaults, {})
 
-    def setupDSIG(self):
+    def setupDummyDSIG(self):
+        """This adds a dummy DSIG table to the font to make some MS applications
+        happy. This does not properly sign the font.
+        """
         from .ttLib.tables.D_S_I_G_ import SignatureRecord
 
         sig = SignatureRecord()
diff --git a/Tests/fontBuilder/fontBuilder_test.py b/Tests/fontBuilder/fontBuilder_test.py
index 88bea7053..e4fafef98 100644
--- a/Tests/fontBuilder/fontBuilder_test.py
+++ b/Tests/fontBuilder/fontBuilder_test.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def test_build_ttf(tmpdir):
     fb.setupNameTable(nameStrings)
     fb.setupOS2()
     fb.setupPost()
-    fb.setupDSIG()
+    fb.setupDummyDSIG()
 
     fb.save(outPath)
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def test_build_otf(tmpdir):
     fb.setupNameTable(nameStrings)
     fb.setupOS2()
     fb.setupPost()
-    fb.setupDSIG()
+    fb.setupDummyDSIG()
 
     fb.save(outPath)