diff --git a/tools/svg2qvg/main.cpp b/tools/svg2qvg/main.cpp
index 0eb5aa7d..af79c63b 100644
--- a/tools/svg2qvg/main.cpp
+++ b/tools/svg2qvg/main.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include <QskGraphic.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <QGuiApplication>
 #include <QSvgRenderer>
 #include <QPainter>
 #include <QDebug>
@@ -32,6 +33,9 @@ int main( int argc, char* argv[] )
         return -1;
     }
 
+    // we need an application object, when the SVG loads fonts
+    QGuiApplication app( argc, argv );
+
     QSvgRenderer renderer;
     if ( !renderer.load( QString( argv[1] ) ) )
         return -2;