diff --git a/src/ftfont.c b/src/ftfont.c
index 6cabddda370..5600bde646d 100644
--- a/src/ftfont.c
+++ b/src/ftfont.c
@@ -1546,7 +1546,8 @@ ftfont_get_metrics (MFLTFont *font, MFLTGlyphString *gstring,
 	  {
 	    FT_Glyph_Metrics *m;
 
-	    if (FT_Load_Glyph (ft_face, g->g.code, FT_LOAD_DEFAULT) != 0)
+	    if (FT_Load_Glyph (ft_face, g->g.code, FT_LOAD_DEFAULT) != 0
+		&& FT_Load_Glyph (ft_face, g->g.code, FT_LOAD_NO_HINTING) != 0)
 	      emacs_abort ();
 	    m = &ft_face->glyph->metrics;
 	    if (flt_font_ft->matrix)