diff --git a/src/hb-iter.hh b/src/hb-iter.hh
index 1e1f0a68f..71a166740 100644
--- a/src/hb-iter.hh
+++ b/src/hb-iter.hh
@@ -79,10 +79,10 @@ struct hb_iter_t
   iter_t& operator ++ () { thiz()->__next__ (); return *thiz(); }
   iter_t& operator -= (unsigned count) { thiz()->__rewind__ (count); return *thiz(); }
   iter_t& operator -- () { thiz()->__prev__ (); return *thiz(); }
-  iter_t operator + (unsigned count) const { iter_t c (*thiz()); c += count; return c; }
+  iter_t operator + (unsigned count) const { auto c = thiz()->iter (); c += count; return c; }
   friend iter_t operator + (unsigned count, const iter_t &it) { return it + count; }
   iter_t operator ++ (int) { iter_t c (*thiz()); ++*thiz(); return c; }
-  iter_t operator - (unsigned count) const { iter_t c (*thiz()); c -= count; return c; }
+  iter_t operator - (unsigned count) const { auto c = thiz()->iter (); c -= count; return c; }
   iter_t operator -- (int) { iter_t c (*thiz()); --*thiz(); return c; }
 
   protected: