diff --git a/synthesis/text/font.py b/synthesis/text/font.py
index 47c6c27..c576714 100644
--- a/synthesis/text/font.py
+++ b/synthesis/text/font.py
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ def get_fonts(path: Path = None) -> List[str]:
 
 @lru_cache(maxsize=None)
 def get_font_picker(**kwargs):
-    return RandomFontPicker(**kwargs, return_default_font=True)
+    return_default_font = kwargs.pop("return_default_font", True)
+    return RandomFontPicker(**kwargs, return_default_font=return_default_font)
 
 
 @lru_cache(maxsize=None)
@@ -96,9 +97,7 @@ def pick_random_mono_space_font_available_on_system(**kwargs):
 @lru_cache(maxsize=None)
 def pick_random_font_available_on_system(**kwargs):
     kwargs["excludes"] = (
-        *kwargs.get(
-            "excludes",
-        ),
+        *kwargs.get("excludes", {}),
         "Kinnari",
         "KacstOne",
     )