diff --git a/src/hb-vector.hh b/src/hb-vector.hh
index 7d2180077..b78605fcd 100644
--- a/src/hb-vector.hh
+++ b/src/hb-vector.hh
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ struct hb_vector_t
 
     if (unlikely (new_allocated && !new_array))
     {
-      if (exact and new_allocated == length)
+      if (new_allocated <= (unsigned) allocated)
         return true; // shrinking failed; it's okay; happens in our fuzzer
 
       allocated = -1;