diff --git a/packages/mdc-typography/_variables.scss b/packages/mdc-typography/_variables.scss
index bb798ecfdc3..85b794bbc21 100644
--- a/packages/mdc-typography/_variables.scss
+++ b/packages/mdc-typography/_variables.scss
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 @import "./functions";
 
-$mdc-typography-font-family: Roboto, sans-serif !default;
+$mdc-typography-font-family: unquote("Roboto, sans-serif") !default;
 
 $mdc-typography-base: (
   font-family: $mdc-typography-font-family,