diff --git a/src/gui/text/qfontengine.cpp b/src/gui/text/qfontengine.cpp
index 9dd59e58f97..917df47aade 100644
--- a/src/gui/text/qfontengine.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/text/qfontengine.cpp
@@ -1754,7 +1754,7 @@ void QFontEngineMulti::setFallbackFamiliesList(const QStringList &fallbackFamili
 
 void QFontEngineMulti::ensureEngineAt(int at)
 {
-    if (!m_fallbackFamiliesQueried)
+    if (!m_fallbackFamiliesQueried && at > 0)
         ensureFallbackFamiliesQueried();
     Q_ASSERT(at < m_engines.size());
     if (!m_engines.at(at)) {