diff --git a/src/backend.h b/src/backend.h
index 1937141..3921899 100644
--- a/src/backend.h
+++ b/src/backend.h
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ struct msgq;
 struct ax_backend;
 struct ax_theme;
 
+struct ax_font_h;
+
 extern const char* ax__backend_impl_name;
 extern size_t ax__backend_desired_region_size;
 
diff --git a/src/backend/sdl.c b/src/backend/sdl.c
index 67107d0..221a7d6 100644
--- a/src/backend/sdl.c
+++ b/src/backend/sdl.c
@@ -12,10 +12,11 @@
  * -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 const char* ax__backend_impl_name = "SDL";
-size_t ax__backend_desired_region_size = SMALL;
+size_t ax__backend_desired_region_size = MEDIUM;
 
 struct ax_backend {
-    struct msgq* mq;
+    struct rgn* rgn;
+    struct msgq* inbox;
     bool shutdown;
 };
 
@@ -43,7 +44,8 @@ int ax__backend_new(
     struct ax_backend* bac = ralloc_typed(init_rgn, struct ax_backend, 1);
     rgn_pin(init_rgn, bac, (void*) backend_cleanup);
 
-    bac->mq = msgq_new(init_rgn);
+    bac->rgn = init_rgn;
+    bac->inbox = msgq_new(init_rgn);
     bac->shutdown = false;
 
     if (out_bac != NULL) {
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ static void backend_cleanup(struct ax_backend* bac)
 
 struct msgq* ax__backend_msgq(struct ax_backend* bac)
 {
-    return bac->mq;
+    return bac->inbox;
 }
 
 bool ax__backend_is_shutdown(struct ax_backend* bac)
@@ -82,11 +84,29 @@ void ax__backend_wait_for_event(struct ax_backend* bac)
     usleep(1000 * 1000);
 }
 
+/* -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Event handling
+ * -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+struct font_list {
+    struct font_list* next;
+    struct ax_theme* thm;
+    size_t cat;
+    struct msgq* cb_mq;
+};
+
+static void load_fonts(
+    struct ax_backend* bac, struct font_list* fonts);
+
 void ax__backend_step(struct ax_backend* bac)
 {
-    msgq_begin_recv(bac->mq);
+    struct rgn tmp_rgn;
+    rgn_init(&tmp_rgn, SMALL);
+    struct font_list* fonts = NULL;
 
-    MSGQ_RECV_ALL(bac->mq) {
+    msgq_begin_recv(bac->inbox);
+
+    MSGQ_RECV_ALL(bac->inbox) {
 
         ON(ax_msg_shutdown,
            {
@@ -97,22 +117,53 @@ void ax__backend_step(struct ax_backend* bac)
 
         ON(ax_msg_load_font,
            {
-               printf("TODO: load font `%s' (size %zu)\n",
-                      m.theme->font_path[m.category],
-                      m.theme->font_size[m.category]);
-
-               m.theme->font_loaded[m.category] = true;
-               if (ax__theme_is_loaded(m.theme)) {
-                   struct ax_msg_theme_loaded* res =
-                       msgq_begin_send_typed(m.callback_mq, ax_msg_theme_loaded);
-                   res->theme = m.theme;
-                   msgq_end_send(m.callback_mq);
-               }
+               struct font_list* l =
+                   ralloc_typed(&tmp_rgn, struct font_list, 1);
+               l->next = fonts;
+               l->thm = m.theme;
+               l->cat = m.category;
+               l->cb_mq = m.callback_mq;
+               fonts = l;
                break;
            });
 
         default: break;
     }
 
-    msgq_end_recv(bac->mq);
+    msgq_end_recv(bac->inbox);
+
+    load_fonts(bac, fonts);
+
+    rgn_cleanup(&tmp_rgn);
+}
+
+/* -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Fonts
+ * -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+struct ax_font_h {
+    TTF_Font* font;
+};
+
+static void load_fonts(
+    struct ax_backend* bac,
+    struct font_list* fl)
+{
+    for (; fl != NULL; fl = fl->next) {
+        struct ax_theme* thm = fl->thm;
+        struct msgq* cb_mq = fl->cb_mq;
+        const char* path = thm->font_path[fl->cat];
+        size_t size = thm->font_size[fl->cat];
+
+        struct ax_font_h* handle = ralloc_typed(bac->rgn, struct ax_font_h, 1);
+        handle->font = TTF_OpenFont(path, size);
+        thm->font_handle[fl->cat] = handle;
+
+        if (ax__theme_is_loaded(thm)) {
+            struct ax_msg_theme_loaded* m =
+                msgq_begin_send_typed(cb_mq, ax_msg_theme_loaded);
+            m->theme = thm;
+            msgq_end_send(cb_mq);
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/ctxt/theme.c b/src/ctxt/theme.c
index 0791662..cdd4f55 100644
--- a/src/ctxt/theme.c
+++ b/src/ctxt/theme.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ static void theme_init(struct ax_theme* thm)
 
     for (size_t i = 0; i < AX_FONT__COUNT; i++) {
         thm->font_path[i] = NULL;
-        thm->font_loaded[i] = false;
+        thm->font_handle[i] = NULL;
     }
 
     thm->font_size[AX_FONT_H1] = 96;
diff --git a/src/ctxt/theme.h b/src/ctxt/theme.h
index b0f9765..5ceaaa4 100644
--- a/src/ctxt/theme.h
+++ b/src/ctxt/theme.h
@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@ enum ax_font_cat {
     AX_FONT__DEFAULT,
 };
 
+struct ax_font_h; // defined by backend
+
 struct ax_theme {
     const char* fatal_err;
     int64_t colors[AX_COLOR__COUNT];
     const char* font_path[AX_FONT__COUNT];
     size_t font_size[AX_FONT__COUNT];
-    bool font_loaded[AX_FONT__COUNT];
+    struct ax_font_h* font_handle[AX_FONT__COUNT];
 };
 
 struct ax_theme_builder {
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ static inline bool ax__theme_is_loaded(
     struct ax_theme* thm)
 {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < AX_FONT__COUNT; i++) {
-        if (!thm->font_loaded[i]) {
+        if (thm->font_handle[i] == NULL) {
             return false;
         }
     }