diff --git a/src/sfnt/ttmtx.c b/src/sfnt/ttmtx.c
index 88377327c..c895eec86 100644
--- a/src/sfnt/ttmtx.c
+++ b/src/sfnt/ttmtx.c
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@
     }
 
 #ifdef TT_CONFIG_OPTION_GX_VAR_SUPPORT
-    if ( var )
+    if ( var && face->blend )
     {
       FT_Face  f = FT_FACE( face );
       FT_Int   a = (FT_Int)*aadvance;