diff --git a/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-indic-private.hh b/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-indic-private.hh
index d65d3ac5f..7bf282e74 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-indic-private.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-indic-private.hh
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ enum indic_category_t {
 
 /* Visual positions in a syllable from left to right. */
 enum indic_position_t {
-  POS_RA,
+  POS_RA_TO_BECOME_REPH,
   POS_LEFT_MATRA,
 
   POS_PRE_C,
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-indic.cc b/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-indic.cc
index 65cff5f26..1f0210167 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-indic.cc
+++ b/src/hb-ot-shape-complex-indic.cc
@@ -287,6 +287,16 @@ initial_reordering_consonant_syllable (const hb_ot_map_t *map, hb_buffer_t *buff
   if (base < start)
     base = start; /* Just in case... */
 
+  /* -> If the syllable starts with Ra + Halant (in a script that has Reph)
+   *    and has more than one consonant, Ra is excluded from candidates for
+   *    base consonants. */
+  if (has_reph && base == start) {
+    /* Have no other consonant, so Reph is not formed and Ra becomes base. */
+    has_reph = false;
+  }
+
+
+
 
   /* 2. Decompose and reorder Matras:
    *