diff --git a/src/ports/SkFontHost_FreeType.cpp b/src/ports/SkFontHost_FreeType.cpp
index 0a4e636..15bc14d 100644
--- a/src/ports/SkFontHost_FreeType.cpp
+++ b/src/ports/SkFontHost_FreeType.cpp
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@
 #    define FT_PIXEL_MODE_BGRA 7
 #endif
 
+// FT_LOAD_BITMAP_METRICS_ONLY was introduced in FreeType 2.7.1
+// The following may be removed once FreeType 2.7.1 is required to build.
+#ifndef FT_LOAD_BITMAP_METRICS_ONLY
+#    define FT_LOAD_BITMAP_METRICS_ONLY ( 1L << 22 )
+#endif
+
 //#define ENABLE_GLYPH_SPEW     // for tracing calls
 //#define DUMP_STRIKE_CREATION
 //#define SK_FONTHOST_FREETYPE_USE_NORMAL_LCD_FILTER
@@ -1084,7 +1090,8 @@
         return;
     }
 
-    err = FT_Load_Glyph( fFace, glyph->getGlyphID(), fLoadGlyphFlags );
+    err = FT_Load_Glyph( fFace, glyph->getGlyphID(),
+                         fLoadGlyphFlags | FT_LOAD_BITMAP_METRICS_ONLY );
     if (err != 0) {
         glyph->zeroMetrics();
         return;