diff --git a/src/HTMLRenderer/text.cc b/src/HTMLRenderer/text.cc
index a5cc07f..760da7f 100644
--- a/src/HTMLRenderer/text.cc
+++ b/src/HTMLRenderer/text.cc
@@ -182,6 +182,11 @@ void HTMLRenderer::drawString(GfxState * state, GooString * s)
             cerr << "TODO: non-zero origins" << endl;
         }
 
+        if (n == 1 && *p == ' ') 
+        {
+            ++nSpaces;
+        }
+
         if(uLen == 0)
         {
             // TODO
@@ -208,11 +213,6 @@ void HTMLRenderer::drawString(GfxState * state, GooString * s)
         dx += dx1;
         dy += dy1;
 
-        if (n == 1 && *p == ' ') 
-        {
-            ++nSpaces;
-        }
-
         ++nChars;
         p += n;
         len -= n;