diff --git a/src/ftcrfont.c b/src/ftcrfont.c
index e7c73eac4d..51890dc18c 100644
--- a/src/ftcrfont.c
+++ b/src/ftcrfont.c
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ ftcrfont_open (struct frame *f, Lisp_Object entity, int pixel_size)
       cairo_matrix_init_scale (&font_matrix, pixel_size, pixel_size);
       cairo_matrix_init_identity (&ctm);
       cairo_font_options_t *options = cairo_font_options_create ();
+      cairo_font_options_set_hint_style (options, CAIRO_HINT_STYLE_SLIGHT);
       ftcrfont_info->cr_scaled_font =
 	cairo_scaled_font_create (font_face, &font_matrix, &ctm, options);
       cairo_font_face_destroy (font_face);