diff --git a/debug/tinysdf.html b/debug/tinysdf.html
index 5faa2b6d019..e4b7ad92658 100644
--- a/debug/tinysdf.html
+++ b/debug/tinysdf.html
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
                 layer.layout['text-field'] = "{name}";
             }
         }
-        map.setStyle(style, map.style.glyphSource.localIdeographFontFamily);
+        map.setStyle(style);
     });
 }
 
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@
     zoom: 8.8,
     center: [121.574, 31.1489],
     style: 'mapbox://styles/mapbox/streets-v10',
-    hash: true
+    hash: true,
+    localIdeographFontFamily: false
 });
 
 localizeLayers(originalMap);
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@
     zoom: 8.8,
     center: [121.574, 31.1489],
     style: 'mapbox://styles/mapbox/streets-v10',
-    localIdeographFontFamily: '"Noto Sans", "Noto Sans CJK SC", sans-serif',
+    //Uses default localIdeographFontFamily 'sans-serif'
     hash: true
 });
 
diff --git a/docs/pages/example/local-ideographs.js b/docs/pages/example/local-ideographs.js
index 0357d6c6574..1763d2c44ce 100644
--- a/docs/pages/example/local-ideographs.js
+++ b/docs/pages/example/local-ideographs.js
@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@ description: >-
   'Hangul Syllables' Unicode ranges. In these ranges, font settings from the
   map's style will be ignored in favor of the locally available font. Keywords
   in the fontstack defined in the map's style (light/regular/medium/bold) will
-  be translated into a CSS 'font-weight'. When using this setting, keep in mind
-  that the fonts you select may not be available on all users' devices. It is
-  best to specify at least one broadly available fallback font class such as
-  'sans-serif'.
+  be translated into a CSS 'font-weight'.
+
+  This setting is enabled by default to use the system 'sans-serif' font. When
+  overriding this setting, keep in mind that the fonts you select may not be available
+  on all users' devices. It is best to specify at least one broadly available
+  fallback font class such as 'sans-serif'.
 tags:
   - internationalization
 pathname: /mapbox-gl-js/example/local-ideographs/
diff --git a/src/ui/map.js b/src/ui/map.js
index e02ccca3f6c..12c2752a080 100755
--- a/src/ui/map.js
+++ b/src/ui/map.js
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ const defaultOptions = {
     renderWorldCopies: true,
     refreshExpiredTiles: true,
     maxTileCacheSize: null,
+    localIdeographFontFamily: 'sans-serif',
     transformRequest: null,
     fadeDuration: 300,
     crossSourceCollisions: true
@@ -204,9 +205,10 @@ const defaultOptions = {
  * @param {Object} [options.fitBoundsOptions] A [`fitBounds`](#map#fitbounds) options object to use _only_ when fitting the initial `bounds` provided above.
  * @param {boolean} [options.renderWorldCopies=true]  If `true`, multiple copies of the world will be rendered, when zoomed out.
  * @param {number} [options.maxTileCacheSize=null]  The maximum number of tiles stored in the tile cache for a given source. If omitted, the cache will be dynamically sized based on the current viewport.
- * @param {string} [options.localIdeographFontFamily=null] If specified, defines a CSS font-family
- *   for locally overriding generation of glyphs in the 'CJK Unified Ideographs' and 'Hangul Syllables' ranges.
+ * @param {string} [options.localIdeographFontFamily='sans-serif'] Defines a CSS
+ *   font-family for locally overriding generation of glyphs in the 'CJK Unified Ideographs' and 'Hangul Syllables' ranges.
  *   In these ranges, font settings from the map's style will be ignored, except for font-weight keywords (light/regular/medium/bold).
+ *   Set to `false`, to enable font settings from the map's style for these glyph ranges.
  *   The purpose of this option is to avoid bandwidth-intensive glyph server requests. (see [Use locally generated ideographs](https://www.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/example/local-ideographs))
  * @param {RequestTransformFunction} [options.transformRequest=null] A callback run before the Map makes a request for an external URL. The callback can be used to modify the url, set headers, or set the credentials property for cross-origin requests.
  *   Expected to return an object with a `url` property and optionally `headers` and `credentials` properties.
@@ -951,13 +953,17 @@ class Map extends Camera {
      * @param {Object} [options]
      * @param {boolean} [options.diff=true] If false, force a 'full' update, removing the current style
      *   and building the given one instead of attempting a diff-based update.
-     * @param {string} [options.localIdeographFontFamily=null] If non-null, defines a css font-family
-     *   for locally overriding generation of glyphs in the 'CJK Unified Ideographs' and 'Hangul Syllables'
-     *   ranges. Forces a full update.
+     * @param {string} [options.localIdeographFontFamily='sans-serif'] Defines a CSS
+     *   font-family for locally overriding generation of glyphs in the 'CJK Unified Ideographs' and 'Hangul Syllables' ranges.
+     *   In these ranges, font settings from the map's style will be ignored, except for font-weight keywords (light/regular/medium/bold).
+     *   Set to `false`, to enable font settings from the map's style for these glyph ranges.
+     *   Forces a full update.
      * @returns {Map} `this`
      * @see [Change a map's style](https://www.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js/example/setstyle/)
      */
     setStyle(style: StyleSpecification | string | null, options?: {diff?: boolean} & StyleOptions) {
+        options = extend({}, { localIdeographFontFamily: defaultOptions.localIdeographFontFamily}, options);
+
         if ((!options || (options.diff !== false && !options.localIdeographFontFamily)) && this.style && style) {
             this._diffStyle(style, options);
             return this;