diff --git a/R/class-workbook-wrappers.R b/R/class-workbook-wrappers.R
index f5e69b862..0b341a63b 100644
--- a/R/class-workbook-wrappers.R
+++ b/R/class-workbook-wrappers.R
@@ -3378,6 +3378,7 @@ wb_add_fill <- function(
 #' @param shadow shadow
 #' @param extend extend
 #' @param vert_align vertical alignment
+#' @param update update
 #' @param ... ...
 #' @examples
 #'  wb <- wb_workbook() %>% wb_add_worksheet("S1") %>% wb_add_data("S1", mtcars)
@@ -3408,6 +3409,7 @@ wb_add_font <- function(
       scheme     = "",
       shadow     = "",
       vert_align = "",
+      update     = FALSE,
       ...
 ) {
   assert_workbook(wb)
@@ -3430,6 +3432,7 @@ wb_add_font <- function(
     scheme     = scheme,
     shadow     = shadow,
     vert_align = vert_align,
+    update     = update,
     ...        = ...
   )
 }
diff --git a/R/class-workbook.R b/R/class-workbook.R
index 287837318..56e5b22f9 100644
--- a/R/class-workbook.R
+++ b/R/class-workbook.R
@@ -8557,6 +8557,7 @@ wbWorkbook <- R6::R6Class(
     #' @param shadow shadow
     #' @param extend extend
     #' @param vert_align vertical alignment
+    #' @param update update
     #' @return The `wbWorkbook`, invisibly
     add_font = function(
         sheet      = current_sheet(),
@@ -8577,6 +8578,7 @@ wbWorkbook <- R6::R6Class(
         scheme     = "",
         shadow     = "",
         vert_align = "",
+        update     = FALSE,
         ...
     ) {
       sheet <- private$get_sheet_index(sheet)
@@ -8611,9 +8613,27 @@ wbWorkbook <- R6::R6Class(
           u = underline,
           vertAlign = vert_align
         )
-        self$styles_mgr$add(new_font, new_font)
 
         xf_prev <- get_cell_styles(self, sheet, dim[[1]])
+
+        if (update) {
+          font_id  <- as.integer(sapply(xml_attr(xf_prev, "xf"), "[[", "fontId")) + 1L
+          font_xml <- self$styles_mgr$styles$fonts[[font_id]]
+
+          # read as data frame with xml elements
+          old_font <- read_font(read_xml(font_xml))
+          new_font <- read_font(read_xml(new_font))
+
+          # update elements
+          sel <- new_font != ""
+          old_font[sel] <- new_font[sel]
+
+          # write as xml font
+          new_font <- write_font(old_font)
+        }
+
+        self$styles_mgr$add(new_font, new_font)
+
         xf_new_font <- set_font(xf_prev, self$styles_mgr$get_font_id(new_font))
 
         self$styles_mgr$add(xf_new_font, xf_new_font)
diff --git a/man/wbWorkbook.Rd b/man/wbWorkbook.Rd
index 921e29705..e4e4d18a6 100644
--- a/man/wbWorkbook.Rd
+++ b/man/wbWorkbook.Rd
@@ -3353,6 +3353,7 @@ provide simple font function
   scheme = "",
   shadow = "",
   vert_align = "",
+  update = FALSE,
   ...
 )}\if{html}{\out{</div>}}
 }
@@ -3394,6 +3395,8 @@ provide simple font function
 
 \item{\code{vert_align}}{vertical alignment}
 
+\item{\code{update}}{update}
+
 \item{\code{...}}{additional arguments}
 }
 \if{html}{\out{</div>}}
diff --git a/man/wb_add_font.Rd b/man/wb_add_font.Rd
index 15d92aac4..108cec562 100644
--- a/man/wb_add_font.Rd
+++ b/man/wb_add_font.Rd
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ wb_add_font(
   scheme = "",
   shadow = "",
   vert_align = "",
+  update = FALSE,
   ...
 )
 }
@@ -63,6 +64,8 @@ wb_add_font(
 
 \item{vert_align}{vertical alignment}
 
+\item{update}{update}
+
 \item{...}{...}
 }
 \value{