diff --git a/src/internal/xmtx.rs b/src/internal/xmtx.rs
index 6cc8775..dc1e534 100644
--- a/src/internal/xmtx.rs
+++ b/src/internal/xmtx.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ pub fn advance(data: &[u8], xmtx: u32, long_metric_count: u16, glyph_id: u16) ->
     let offset = if glyph_id < long_metric_count {
         glyph_id as usize * 4
     } else {
-        (long_metric_count - 1) as usize * 4
+        long_metric_count.saturating_sub(1) as usize * 4
     };
     b.read_u16(offset + xmtx as usize).unwrap_or(0)
 }
@@ -26,3 +26,17 @@ pub fn sb(data: &[u8], xmtx: u32, long_metric_count: u16, glyph_id: u16) -> i16
     };
     b.read_i16(offset + xmtx as usize).unwrap_or(0)
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::advance;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn advance_with_zero_long_metrics_does_not_underflow() {
+        // A font with numberOfHMetrics == 0 must not underflow
+        // `long_metric_count - 1` (debug panic) or wrap to 65535 (release).
+        // https://github.com/dfrg/swash/issues/133
+        assert_eq!(advance(&[], 0, 0, 0), 0);
+        assert_eq!(advance(&[], 0, 0, 5), 0);
+    }
+}