diff --git a/kitty_tests/fonts.py b/kitty_tests/fonts.py
index a7b166bb5..656eddf3a 100644
--- a/kitty_tests/fonts.py
+++ b/kitty_tests/fonts.py
@@ -6,11 +6,14 @@ from collections import OrderedDict
 
 from kitty.constants import isosx
 from kitty.fast_data_types import (
-    set_logical_dpi, set_send_sprite_to_gpu, sprite_map_set_layout,
-    sprite_map_set_limits, test_render_line, test_sprite_position_for, wcwidth
+    change_wcwidth, set_logical_dpi, set_send_sprite_to_gpu,
+    sprite_map_set_layout, sprite_map_set_limits, test_render_line,
+    test_sprite_position_for, wcwidth
 )
 from kitty.fonts.box_drawing import box_chars
-from kitty.fonts.render import prerender, render_string, set_font_family, shape_string
+from kitty.fonts.render import (
+    prerender, render_string, set_font_family, shape_string
+)
 from kitty.utils import get_logical_dpi
 
 from . import BaseTest
@@ -70,12 +73,16 @@ class Rendering(BaseTest):
         self.ae(len(cells), sz)
 
     def test_shaping(self):
+        change_wcwidth(True)
+        try:
 
-        def groups(text, path=None):
-            return [x[:2] for x in shape_string(text, path=path)]
+            def groups(text, path=None):
+                return [x[:2] for x in shape_string(text, path=path)]
 
-        self.ae(groups('abcd'), [(1, 1) for i in range(4)])
-        self.ae(groups('A=>>B!=C', path='kitty_tests/FiraCode-Medium.otf'), [(1, 1), (3, 3), (1, 1), (2, 2), (1, 1)])
-        self.ae(groups('|\U0001F601|\U0001F64f|\U0001F63a|'), [(1, 1), (2, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), (1, 1)])
-        self.ae(groups('He\u0347\u0305llo\u0337,', path='kitty_tests/LiberationMono-Regular.ttf'),
-                [(1, 1), (1, 3), (1, 1), (1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 1)])
+            self.ae(groups('abcd'), [(1, 1) for i in range(4)])
+            self.ae(groups('A=>>B!=C', path='kitty_tests/FiraCode-Medium.otf'), [(1, 1), (3, 3), (1, 1), (2, 2), (1, 1)])
+            self.ae(groups('|\U0001F601|\U0001F64f|\U0001F63a|'), [(1, 1), (2, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), (1, 1)])
+            self.ae(groups('He\u0347\u0305llo\u0337,', path='kitty_tests/LiberationMono-Regular.ttf'),
+                    [(1, 1), (1, 3), (1, 1), (1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 1)])
+        finally:
+            change_wcwidth(False)