diff --git a/src/swash.rs b/src/swash.rs
index 43d088b..8ff411a 100644
--- a/src/swash.rs
+++ b/src/swash.rs
@@ -33,11 +33,10 @@ fn swash_image(
         .size(f32::from_bits(cache_key.font_size_bits))
         .hint(!cache_key.flags.contains(CacheKeyFlags::DISABLE_HINTING));
     if let Some(variation) = variable_width {
-        scaler = scaler.variations(std::iter::once(swash::Setting {
-            tag: swash::Tag::from_be_bytes(*b"wght"),
-            value: f32::from(cache_key.font_weight.0)
-                .clamp(variation.min_value(), variation.max_value()),
-        }));
+        scaler = scaler.normalized_coords(font.as_swash().variations().normalized_coords([(
+            swash::Tag::from_be_bytes(*b"wght"),
+            f32::from(cache_key.font_weight.0).clamp(variation.min_value(), variation.max_value()),
+        )]));
     }
     let mut scaler = scaler.build();
 
@@ -100,11 +99,10 @@ fn swash_outline_commands(
         .size(f32::from_bits(cache_key.font_size_bits))
         .hint(!cache_key.flags.contains(CacheKeyFlags::DISABLE_HINTING));
     if let Some(variation) = variable_width {
-        scaler = scaler.variations(std::iter::once(swash::Setting {
-            tag: swash::Tag::from_be_bytes(*b"wght"),
-            value: f32::from(cache_key.font_weight.0)
-                .clamp(variation.min_value(), variation.max_value()),
-        }));
+        scaler = scaler.normalized_coords(font.as_swash().variations().normalized_coords([(
+            swash::Tag::from_be_bytes(*b"wght"),
+            f32::from(cache_key.font_weight.0).clamp(variation.min_value(), variation.max_value()),
+        )]));
     }
     let mut scaler = scaler.build();
 
@@ -244,3 +242,60 @@ impl SwashCache {
         }
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+    use swash::{FontRef, Setting, Tag};
+
+    // variations() resizes context.coords in place (stale values persist),
+    // whereas using normalized_coords() clears and replaces them.
+    #[test]
+    fn no_coord_leakage_across_fonts() {
+        let [Ok(sfns), Ok(sfns_italic)] = [
+            "/System/Library/Fonts/SFNS.ttf",
+            "/System/Library/Fonts/SFNSItalic.ttf",
+        ]
+        .map(std::fs::read) else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let regular = FontRef::from_index(&sfns, 0).unwrap();
+        let italic = FontRef::from_index(&sfns_italic, 0).unwrap();
+        let wght = Tag::from_be_bytes(*b"wght");
+
+        let render = |ctx: &mut ScaleContext, font: FontRef, weight: f32, use_normalized| {
+            let mut b = ctx.builder(font).size(16.0).hint(true);
+            if use_normalized {
+                b = b.normalized_coords(font.variations().normalized_coords([(wght, weight)]));
+            } else {
+                b = b.variations(std::iter::once(Setting {
+                    tag: wght,
+                    value: weight,
+                }));
+            }
+            Render::new(&[Source::Outline])
+                .format(Format::Alpha)
+                .render(&mut b.build(), 36)
+        };
+
+        // reference: regular@400 with no prior context
+        let mut ctx = ScaleContext::new();
+        let reference = render(&mut ctx, regular, 400.0, false).map(|i| i.data);
+
+        // variations(): pollute ctx with italic@700, then render regular@400
+        let mut ctx = ScaleContext::new();
+        render(&mut ctx, italic, 700.0, false);
+        let not_normalized = render(&mut ctx, regular, 400.0, false).map(|i| i.data);
+
+        // normalized_coords(): same sequence
+        let mut ctx = ScaleContext::new();
+        render(&mut ctx, italic, 700.0, true);
+        let normalized = render(&mut ctx, regular, 400.0, true).map(|i| i.data);
+
+        assert_ne!(not_normalized, reference, "variations leak across fonts");
+        assert_eq!(
+            normalized, reference,
+            "normalized_coords match clean render"
+        );
+    }
+}