diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1c4255da3f0..eb7e5ee2607 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -3303,6 +3303,11 @@ if test "${HAVE_X11}" = "yes"; then
 	    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_OTF_GET_VARIATION_GLYPHS, 1,
 		      [Define to 1 if libotf has OTF_get_variation_glyphs.])
 	  fi
+	  EMACS_CHECK_MODULES([OTFOK], [libotf >= 0.9.16])
+	  if test "$HAVE_OTFOK" != "yes"; then
+	    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_OTF_KANNADA_BUG, 1,
+[Define to 1 if libotf is affected by https://debbugs.gnu.org/28110.])
+	  fi
 	fi
       fi
     dnl FIXME should there be an error if HAVE_FREETYPE != yes?
diff --git a/src/xfaces.c b/src/xfaces.c
index 34797994c3c..77afee4587d 100644
--- a/src/xfaces.c
+++ b/src/xfaces.c
@@ -6526,7 +6526,12 @@ other font of the appropriate family and registry is available.  */);
 	       doc: /* List of ignored fonts.
 Each element is a regular expression that matches names of fonts to
 ignore.  */);
+#ifdef HAVE_OTF_KANNADA_BUG
+  /* https://debbugs.gnu.org/30193  */
+  Vface_ignored_fonts = list1 (build_string ("Noto Serif Kannada"));
+#else
   Vface_ignored_fonts = Qnil;
+#endif
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("face-remapping-alist", Vface_remapping_alist,
 	       doc: /* Alist of face remappings.