diff --git a/src/hb-face.cc b/src/hb-face.cc
index 2c0087370..2f6f29121 100644
--- a/src/hb-face.cc
+++ b/src/hb-face.cc
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ hb_face_create_for_tables (hb_reference_table_func_t  reference_table_func,
 
 typedef struct hb_face_for_data_closure_t {
   hb_blob_t *blob;
-  unsigned int  index;
+  uint16_t  index;
 } hb_face_for_data_closure_t;
 
 static hb_face_for_data_closure_t *
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ _hb_face_for_data_closure_create (hb_blob_t *blob, unsigned int index)
     return nullptr;
 
   closure->blob = blob;
-  closure->index = index;
+  closure->index = (uint16_t) (index & 0xFFFFu);
 
   return closure;
 }
@@ -195,9 +195,15 @@ _hb_face_for_data_reference_table (hb_face_t *face HB_UNUSED, hb_tag_t tag, void
  * @index: The index of the face within @blob
  *
  * Constructs a new face object from the specified blob and
- * a face index into that blob. This is used for blobs of
- * file formats such as Dfont and TTC that can contain more
- * than one face.
+ * a face index into that blob.
+ *
+ * The face index is used for blobs of file formats such as TTC and
+ * and DFont that can contain more than one face.  Face indices within
+ * such collections are zero-based.
+ *
+ * <note>Note: If the blob font format is not a collection, @index
+ * is ignored.  Otherwise, only the lower 16-bits of @index are used.
+ * The unmodified @index can be accessed via hb_face_get_index().</note>
  *
  * Return value: (transfer full): The new face object
  *
@@ -420,7 +426,8 @@ hb_face_reference_blob (hb_face_t *face)
  * Assigns the specified face-index to @face. Fails if the
  * face is immutable.
  *
- * <note>Note: face indices within a collection are zero-based.</note>
+ * <note>Note: changing the index has no effect on the face itself
+ * This only changes the value returned by hb_face_get_index().</note>
  *
  * Since: 0.9.2
  **/