diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/pdf/render/engine.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/pdf/render/engine.py
index 149d75d1f0..136e622500 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/pdf/render/engine.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/pdf/render/engine.py
@@ -240,14 +240,17 @@ class PdfEngine(QPaintEngine):
     @store_error
     def drawTextItem(self, point, text_item):
         # super(PdfEngine, self).drawTextItem(point, text_item)
-        self.apply_graphics_state()
         gi = self.qt_hack.get_glyphs(point, text_item)
         if not gi.indices:
             sip.delete(gi)
             return
         name = hash(bytes(gi.name))
         if name not in self.fonts:
-            self.fonts[name] = self.create_sfnt(text_item)
+            try:
+                self.fonts[name] = self.create_sfnt(text_item)
+            except UnsupportedFont:
+                return super(PdfEngine, self).drawTextItem(point, text_item)
+        self.apply_graphics_state()
         metrics = self.fonts[name]
         for glyph_id in gi.indices:
             try: