diff --git a/gm/variedtext.cpp b/gm/variedtext.cpp
index 989bebd328..b2b96b34c5 100644
--- a/gm/variedtext.cpp
+++ b/gm/variedtext.cpp
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ protected:
         SkScalar h = SkIntToScalar(size.fHeight);
 
         SK_COMPILE_ASSERT(4 == SK_ARRAY_COUNT(fTypefacesToUnref), typeface_cnt);
-        fTypefacesToUnref[0] = sk_tool_utils::create_portable_typeface("sans-serif", SkTypeface::kNormal);
-        fTypefacesToUnref[1] = sk_tool_utils::create_portable_typeface("sans-serif", SkTypeface::kBold);
-        fTypefacesToUnref[2] = sk_tool_utils::create_portable_typeface("serif", SkTypeface::kNormal);
-        fTypefacesToUnref[3] = sk_tool_utils::create_portable_typeface("serif", SkTypeface::kBold);
+        fTypefacesToUnref[0] = sk_tool_utils::create_portable_typeface_always("sans-serif", SkTypeface::kNormal);
+        fTypefacesToUnref[1] = sk_tool_utils::create_portable_typeface_always("sans-serif", SkTypeface::kBold);
+        fTypefacesToUnref[2] = sk_tool_utils::create_portable_typeface_always("serif", SkTypeface::kNormal);
+        fTypefacesToUnref[3] = sk_tool_utils::create_portable_typeface_always("serif", SkTypeface::kBold);
 
         SkRandom random;
         for (int i = 0; i < kCnt; ++i) {
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ protected:
 
             fColors[i] = random.nextU();
             fColors[i] |= 0xFF000000;
+            fColors[i] = sk_tool_utils::color_to_565(fColors[i]);
 
             static const SkScalar kMinPtSize = 8.f;
             static const SkScalar kMaxPtSize = 32.f;