diff --git a/ultraplot/constructor.py b/ultraplot/constructor.py
index ea5909d54..b9036cf27 100644
--- a/ultraplot/constructor.py
+++ b/ultraplot/constructor.py
@@ -227,9 +227,13 @@ def _build_formatter_registry() -> dict[str, object]:
     if hasattr(mdates, "ConciseDateFormatter"):
         registry["concise"] = mdates.ConciseDateFormatter
     if _version_cartopy >= "0.18":
-        registry["dms"] = partial(pticker.DegreeFormatter, dms=True)
-        registry["dmslon"] = partial(pticker.LongitudeFormatter, dms=True)
-        registry["dmslat"] = partial(pticker.LatitudeFormatter, dms=True)
+        # Cartopy defaults to U+2032/U+2033 prime glyphs for minutes/seconds.
+        # TeX Gyre Heros, UltraPlot's default sans-serif font, does not contain
+        # those glyphs, so use ASCII symbols for the built-in DMS presets.
+        dms_kwargs = {"dms": True, "minute_symbol": "'", "second_symbol": '"'}
+        registry["dms"] = partial(pticker.DegreeFormatter, **dms_kwargs)
+        registry["dmslon"] = partial(pticker.LongitudeFormatter, **dms_kwargs)
+        registry["dmslat"] = partial(pticker.LatitudeFormatter, **dms_kwargs)
     return registry
 
 
diff --git a/ultraplot/tests/test_geographic.py b/ultraplot/tests/test_geographic.py
index 7a3c27844..ea1edd671 100644
--- a/ultraplot/tests/test_geographic.py
+++ b/ultraplot/tests/test_geographic.py
@@ -306,6 +306,15 @@ def test_lon0_shifts():
     uplt.close(fig)
 
 
+def test_dms_formatter_symbols_are_default_font_safe():
+    formatter = uplt.Formatter("dmslon")
+    label = formatter(1 + 1 / 60 + 1 / 3600)
+    assert "\N{PRIME}" not in label
+    assert "\N{DOUBLE PRIME}" not in label
+    assert "'" in label
+    assert '"' in label
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "layout, expectations",
     [