diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
index d913e78f5f..3d5b62a17d 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
@@ -540,7 +540,11 @@ def scroll_to(cfi, callback, doc):  # {{{
 
             # Reset the range to what it was before the span was added
             r.setStart(sc, so)
-            r.setEnd(ec, eo)
+            try:
+                r.setEnd(ec, eo)
+            except:
+                # this happens for some japanese books
+                r.setEnd(ec, eo-1)
             rects = r.getClientRects()
             if rects.length > 0:
                 rect = rects[0]