-if not "(%usercflags%)" == "()" echo USER_CFLAGS=%usercflags%>>config.settings\r
-if not "(%userldflags%)" == "()" echo USER_LDFLAGS=%userldflags%>>config.settings\r
+rem We go thru docflags because usercflags could be "-DFOO=bar" -something\r
+rem and the if command cannot cope with this\r
+for %%v in (%usercflags%) do if not (%%v)==() set docflags=Y\r
+if (%docflags%)==(Y) echo USER_CFLAGS=%usercflags%>>config.settings\r
+for %%v in (%userldflags%) do if not (%%v)==() set doldflags=Y\r
+if (%doldflags%)==(Y) echo USER_LDFLAGS=%userldflags%>>config.settings\r
+if (%usefontbackend%) == (Y) echo USE_FONTBACKEND=1 >>config.settings\r