diff --git a/util/helper-cairo.hh b/util/helper-cairo.hh
index d834cc87d..604271949 100644
--- a/util/helper-cairo.hh
+++ b/util/helper-cairo.hh
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ helper_cairo_create_scaled_font (const font_options_t *font_opts)
 
   cairo_font_face_t *cairo_face;
   if (use_hb_draw)
+  {
     cairo_face = hb_cairo_font_face_create_for_font (font);
+    hb_cairo_font_face_set_scale_factor (cairo_face, 1 << font_opts->subpixel_bits);
+  }
 #ifdef HAVE_CAIRO_FT
   else
     cairo_face = helper_cairo_create_ft_font_face (font_opts);