diff --git a/enable/api.py b/enable/api.py
index 10a8a4bda..9d417e9f8 100644
--- a/enable/api.py
+++ b/enable/api.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 ===========
 
 - :class:`~.IDroppedOnHandler`
-- :func:`~.str_to_font`
 - :func:`~.intersect_bounds`
 
 Constants
diff --git a/enable/base.py b/enable/base.py
index 641a28bf1..393db04f1 100644
--- a/enable/base.py
+++ b/enable/base.py
@@ -78,8 +78,16 @@
 
 
 def str_to_font(object, name, value):
-    "Converts a (somewhat) free-form string into a valid Font object."
-    # FIXME: Make this less free-form and more well-defined.
+    """ Converts a (somewhat) free-form string into a valid Font object.
+    """
+    import warnings
+
+    warnings.warn(
+        ("str_to_font should not be imported from enable.api. Use the version "
+         "from kiva.fonttools instead."),
+        DeprecationWarning,
+        stacklevel=2,
+    )
     try:
         point_size = 10
         family = SWISS
@@ -115,14 +123,9 @@ def str_to_font(object, name, value):
     raise TraitError(object, name, "a font descriptor string", repr(value))
 
 
-str_to_font.info = (
-    "a string describing a font (e.g. '12 pt bold italic "
-    + "swiss family Arial' or 'default 12')"
-)
-
 # Pick a default font that should work on all platforms.
 default_font_name = "modern 10"
-default_font = str_to_font(None, None, default_font_name)
+default_font = Font(family=MODERN, size=10)
 
 
 def bounding_box(components):
diff --git a/enable/examples/demo/enable/filled_container_demo.py b/enable/examples/demo/enable/filled_container_demo.py
index c6e004c69..f98841dea 100644
--- a/enable/examples/demo/enable/filled_container_demo.py
+++ b/enable/examples/demo/enable/filled_container_demo.py
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@
 from numpy import array
 from traits.api import Any, Enum, Float, Instance, Tuple
 
-from enable.api import Container, Component, Pointer, str_to_font
+from enable.api import Container, Component, Pointer
 from enable.example_support import DemoFrame, demo_main
+from kiva.fonttools import str_to_font
 
 
 class MyFilledContainer(Container):
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ class MyFilledContainer(Container):
     def _draw_container_mainlayer(self, gc, view_bounds, mode="default"):
         'Draws a filled container with the word "Container" in the center'
         if not self._font:
-            self._font = str_to_font(None, None, "modern 10")
+            self._font = str_to_font("modern 10")
 
         with gc:
             gc.set_fill_color(self.bgcolor_)
diff --git a/enable/examples/demo/enable/hidpi_component.py b/enable/examples/demo/enable/hidpi_component.py
index 990818cde..e893f6241 100644
--- a/enable/examples/demo/enable/hidpi_component.py
+++ b/enable/examples/demo/enable/hidpi_component.py
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@
 from traits.api import Any, HasTraits, Instance, Str
 from traitsui.api import HGroup, UItem, View
 
-from enable.api import Component, ComponentEditor, str_to_font
+from enable.api import Component, ComponentEditor
+from kiva.fonttools import str_to_font
 
 
 class MyComponent(Component):
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ class MyComponent(Component):
 
     def draw(self, gc, **kwargs):
         if not self._font:
-            self._font = str_to_font(None, None, "modern 48")
+            self._font = str_to_font("modern 48")
 
         gc.clear((0.5, 0.5, 0.5))
         mx = self.x + self.width / 2.0