diff --git a/lib/ace/layer/font_metrics.js b/lib/ace/layer/font_metrics.js
index a65e100d..a1423732 100644
--- a/lib/ace/layer/font_metrics.js
+++ b/lib/ace/layer/font_metrics.js
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ define(function(require, exports, module) {
 var oop = require("../lib/oop");
 var dom = require("../lib/dom");
 var lang = require("../lib/lang");
+var useragent = require("../lib/useragent");
 var EventEmitter = require("../lib/event_emitter").EventEmitter;
 
 var CHAR_COUNT = 0;
@@ -85,7 +86,12 @@ var FontMetrics = exports.FontMetrics = function(parentEl, interval) {
         style.visibility = "hidden";
         style.position = "fixed";
         style.whiteSpace = "pre";
-        style.font = "inherit";
+
+        if (useragent.isIE < 8) {
+            style["font-family"] = "inherit";
+        } else {
+            style.font = "inherit";
+        }
         style.overflow = isRoot ? "hidden" : "visible";
     };