diff --git a/terminatorlib/config.py b/terminatorlib/config.py
index 2a6b254d..ed84c02a 100755
--- a/terminatorlib/config.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/config.py
@@ -79,12 +79,7 @@ from configobj.validate import Validator
 from borg import Borg
 from util import dbg, err, DEBUG, get_config_dir, dict_diff
 
-try:
-    import gi
-    gi.require_version('GConf','2.0')
-    from gi.repository import GConf
-except ImportError:
-    dbg('Unable to import gconf, GNOME defaults unavailable')
+from gi.repository import Gio
 
 DEFAULTS = {
         'global_config':   {
@@ -272,7 +267,6 @@ class Config(object):
     """Class to provide a slightly richer config API above ConfigBase"""
     base = None
     profile = None
-    gconf = None
     system_mono_font = None
     system_prop_font = None
     system_focus = None
@@ -282,6 +276,7 @@ class Config(object):
         self.base = ConfigBase()
         self.set_profile(profile)
         self.inhibited = False
+        self.connect_gsetting_callbacks()
 
     def __getitem__(self, key, default=None):
         """Look up a configuration item"""
@@ -360,70 +355,69 @@ class Config(object):
         """List all configured layouts"""
         return(self.base.layouts.keys())
 
+    def connect_gsetting_callbacks(self):
+        """Get system settings and create callbacks for changes"""
+        dbg("GSetting connects for system changes")
+        # Have to preserve these to self, or callbacks don't happen
+        self.gsettings_interface=Gio.Settings.new('org.gnome.desktop.interface')
+        self.gsettings_interface.connect("changed::font-name", self.on_gsettings_change_event)
+        self.gsettings_interface.connect("changed::monospace-font-name", self.on_gsettings_change_event)
+        self.gsettings_wm=Gio.Settings.new('org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences')
+        self.gsettings_wm.connect("changed::focus-mode", self.on_gsettings_change_event)
+
     def get_system_prop_font(self):
         """Look up the system font"""
         if self.system_prop_font is not None:
             return(self.system_prop_font)
-        elif 'GConf' not in globals():
+        elif 'org.gnome.desktop.interface' not in Gio.Settings.list_schemas():
             return
         else:
-            if self.gconf is None:
-                self.gconf = GConf.Client.get_default()
-
-            value = self.gconf.get(
-                        '/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name')
+            gsettings=Gio.Settings.new('org.gnome.desktop.interface')
+            value = gsettings.get_value('font-name')
             if value:
                 self.system_prop_font = value.get_string()
             else:
                 self.system_prop_font = "Sans 10"
-            self.gconf.notify_add(
-                        '/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name', 
-                        self.on_gconf_notify)
             return(self.system_prop_font)
 
     def get_system_mono_font(self):
         """Look up the system font"""
         if self.system_mono_font is not None:
             return(self.system_mono_font)
-        elif 'GConf' not in globals():
+        elif 'org.gnome.desktop.interface' not in Gio.Settings.list_schemas():
             return
         else:
-            if self.gconf is None:
-                self.gconf = GConf.Client.get_default()
-
-            value = self.gconf.get(
-                        '/desktop/gnome/interface/monospace_font_name')
+            gsettings=Gio.Settings.new('org.gnome.desktop.interface')
+            value = gsettings.get_value('monospace-font-name')
             if value:
                 self.system_mono_font = value.get_string()
             else:
                 self.system_mono_font = "Mono 10"
-            self.gconf.notify_add(
-                        '/desktop/gnome/interface/monospace_font_name', 
-                        self.on_gconf_notify)
             return(self.system_mono_font)
 
     def get_system_focus(self):
         """Look up the system focus setting"""
         if self.system_focus is not None:
             return(self.system_focus)
-        elif 'GConf' not in globals():
+        elif 'org.gnome.desktop.interface' not in Gio.Settings.list_schemas():
             return
         else:
-            if self.gconf is None:
-                self.gconf = GConf.Client.get_default()
-
-            value = self.gconf.get('/apps/metacity/general/focus_mode')
+            gsettings=Gio.Settings.new('org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences')
+            value = gsettings.get_value('focus-mode')
             if value:
                 self.system_focus = value.get_string()
-                self.gconf.notify_add('/apps/metacity/general/focus_mode',
-                        self.on_gconf_notify)
             return(self.system_focus)
 
-    def on_gconf_notify(self, _client, _cnxn_id, _entry, _what):
-        """Handle a gconf watch changing"""
-        dbg('GConf notification received. Invalidating caches')
+    def on_gsettings_change_event(self, settings, key):
+        """Handle a gsetting change event"""
+        dbg('GSetting change event received. Invalidating caches')
         self.system_focus = None
         self.system_font = None
+        self.system_mono_font = None
+        # Need to trigger a reconfigure to change active terminals immediately
+        if "Terminator" not in globals():
+            from terminator import Terminator
+        Terminator().reconfigure()
 
     def save(self):
         """Cause ConfigBase to save our config to file"""