diff --git a/src/smooth/ftgrays.c b/src/smooth/ftgrays.c
index 40de269..0e26d7b 100644
--- a/src/smooth/ftgrays.c
+++ b/src/smooth/ftgrays.c
@@ -884,14 +884,37 @@ typedef ptrdiff_t  FT_PtrDist;
     arc[1].y = UPSCALE( control->y );
     arc[2].x = ras.x;
     arc[2].y = ras.y;
+    top      = 0;
 
     dx = FT_ABS( arc[2].x + arc[0].x - 2 * arc[1].x );
     dy = FT_ABS( arc[2].y + arc[0].y - 2 * arc[1].y );
     if ( dx < dy )
       dx = dy;
 
+    if ( dx < ONE_PIXEL / 4 )
+      goto Draw;
+    else
+    {
+      /* short-cut the arc that crosses the current band */
+      TPos  min, max, y;
+
+
+      min = max = arc[0].y;
+
+      y = arc[1].y;
+      if ( y < min ) min = y;
+      if ( y > max ) max = y;
+
+      y = arc[2].y;
+      if ( y < min ) min = y;
+      if ( y > max ) max = y;
+
+      if ( TRUNC( min ) >= ras.max_ey || TRUNC( max ) < ras.min_ey )
+        goto Draw;
+    }
+
     level = 0;
-    while ( dx > ONE_PIXEL / 6 )
+    while ( dx > ONE_PIXEL / 4 )
     {
       dx >>= 2;
       level++;
@@ -899,30 +922,12 @@ typedef ptrdiff_t  FT_PtrDist;
 
     levels    = ras.lev_stack;
     levels[0] = level;
-    top       = 0;
 
     do
     {
       level = levels[top];
-      if ( level > 1 )
+      if ( level > 0 )
       {
-        /* check that the arc crosses the current band */
-        TPos  min, max, y;
-
-
-        min = max = arc[0].y;
-
-        y = arc[1].y;
-        if ( y < min ) min = y;
-        if ( y > max ) max = y;
-
-        y = arc[2].y;
-        if ( y < min ) min = y;
-        if ( y > max ) max = y;
-
-        if ( TRUNC( min ) >= ras.max_ey || TRUNC( max ) < ras.min_ey )
-          goto Draw;
-
         gray_split_conic( arc );
         arc += 2;
         top++;