diff --git a/src/base/ftoutln.c b/src/base/ftoutln.c
index 30ff21ff3..e7ae82e21 100644
--- a/src/base/ftoutln.c
+++ b/src/base/ftoutln.c
@@ -556,6 +556,10 @@
     {
       last  = outline->contours[n];
 
+      /* keep the first contour point as is and swap points around it */
+      /* to guarantee that the cubic arches stay valid after reverse  */
+      first++;
+
       /* reverse point table */
       {
         FT_Vector*  p = outline->points + first;