diff --git a/node-graph/gcore/src/text/to_path.rs b/node-graph/gcore/src/text/to_path.rs
index b96e03ff..880a05fe 100644
--- a/node-graph/gcore/src/text/to_path.rs
+++ b/node-graph/gcore/src/text/to_path.rs
@@ -50,16 +50,14 @@ impl PathBuilder {
 		}
 
 		if per_glyph_instances {
-			if !self.glyph_subpaths.is_empty() {
-				self.vector_table.push(Instance {
-					instance: VectorData::from_subpaths(core::mem::take(&mut self.glyph_subpaths), false),
-					transform: DAffine2::from_translation(glyph_offset),
-					..Default::default()
-				})
-			}
-		} else if !self.glyph_subpaths.is_empty() {
-			for subpath in self.glyph_subpaths.iter() {
-				// Unwrapping here is ok, since the check above guarantees there is at least one `VectorData`
+			self.vector_table.push(Instance {
+				instance: VectorData::from_subpaths(core::mem::take(&mut self.glyph_subpaths), false),
+				transform: DAffine2::from_translation(glyph_offset),
+				..Default::default()
+			});
+		} else {
+			for subpath in self.glyph_subpaths.drain(..) {
+				// Unwrapping here is ok because `self.vector_table` is initialized with a single `VectorData`
 				self.vector_table.get_mut(0).unwrap().instance.append_subpath(subpath, false);
 			}
 		}
@@ -128,18 +126,26 @@ fn render_glyph_run(glyph_run: &GlyphRun<'_, ()>, path_builder: &mut PathBuilder
 
 	// User-requested tilt applied around baseline to avoid vertical displacement
 	// Translation ensures rotation point is at the baseline, not origin
-	let skew = DAffine2::from_translation(DVec2::new(0., run_y as f64))
-		* DAffine2::from_cols_array(&[1., 0., -tilt.to_radians().tan(), 1., 0., 0.])
-		* DAffine2::from_translation(DVec2::new(0., -run_y as f64));
+	let skew = if per_glyph_instances {
+		DAffine2::from_cols_array(&[1., 0., -tilt.to_radians().tan(), 1., 0., 0.])
+	} else {
+		DAffine2::from_translation(DVec2::new(0., run_y as f64))
+			* DAffine2::from_cols_array(&[1., 0., -tilt.to_radians().tan(), 1., 0., 0.])
+			* DAffine2::from_translation(DVec2::new(0., -run_y as f64))
+	};
 
 	let synthesis = run.synthesis();
 
 	// Font synthesis (e.g., synthetic italic) applied separately from user transforms
 	// This preserves the distinction between font styling and user transformations
 	let style_skew = synthesis.skew().map(|angle| {
-		DAffine2::from_translation(DVec2::new(0., run_y as f64))
-			* DAffine2::from_cols_array(&[1., 0., -angle.to_radians().tan() as f64, 1., 0., 0.])
-			* DAffine2::from_translation(DVec2::new(0., -run_y as f64))
+		if per_glyph_instances {
+			DAffine2::from_cols_array(&[1., 0., -angle.to_radians().tan() as f64, 1., 0., 0.])
+		} else {
+			DAffine2::from_translation(DVec2::new(0., run_y as f64))
+				* DAffine2::from_cols_array(&[1., 0., -angle.to_radians().tan() as f64, 1., 0., 0.])
+				* DAffine2::from_translation(DVec2::new(0., -run_y as f64))
+		}
 	});
 
 	let font = run.font();