diff --git a/src/hb-repacker.hh b/src/hb-repacker.hh
index dd9f36cde..173fe4a2f 100644
--- a/src/hb-repacker.hh
+++ b/src/hb-repacker.hh
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ template<typename T>
 inline hb_blob_t*
 hb_resolve_overflows (const T& packed,
                       hb_tag_t table_tag,
-                      unsigned max_rounds = 40) {
+                      unsigned max_rounds = 20) {
   graph_t sorted_graph (packed);
   sorted_graph.sort_shortest_distance ();
 
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ hb_resolve_overflows (const T& packed,
   // TODO(garretrieger): select a good limit for max rounds.
   while (!sorted_graph.in_error ()
          && graph::will_overflow (sorted_graph, &overflows)
-         && round++ < max_rounds) {
+         && round < max_rounds) {
     DEBUG_MSG (SUBSET_REPACK, nullptr, "=== Overflow resolution round %d ===", round);
     print_overflows (sorted_graph, overflows);
 
@@ -189,6 +189,9 @@ hb_resolve_overflows (const T& packed,
 
     if (!_try_isolating_subgraphs (overflows, sorted_graph))
     {
+      // Don't count space isolation towards round limit. Only increment
+      // round counter if space isolation made no changes.
+      round++;
       if (!_process_overflows (overflows, priority_bumped_parents, sorted_graph))
       {
         DEBUG_MSG (SUBSET_REPACK, nullptr, "No resolution available :(");