=== modified file 'src/extension/internal/pdfinput/svg-builder.cpp'
--- src/extension/internal/pdfinput/svg-builder.cpp	2014-02-11 13:56:11 +0000
+++ src/extension/internal/pdfinput/svg-builder.cpp	2014-02-25 18:51:44 +0000
@@ -1256,19 +1256,23 @@
     Glib::ustring text_buffer;
 
     // Output all buffered glyphs
+    std::vector<SvgGlyph>::iterator prev_iterator = _glyphs.end(); // will not have a real value until bottom of first loop
     while (1) {
         const SvgGlyph& glyph = (*i);
-        std::vector<SvgGlyph>::iterator prev_iterator = i - 1;
         // Check if we need to make a new tspan
-        if (glyph.style_changed) {
-            new_tspan = true;
-        } else if ( i != _glyphs.begin() ) {
-            const SvgGlyph& prev_glyph = (*prev_iterator);
-            if ( !( ( glyph.dy == 0.0 && prev_glyph.dy == 0.0 &&
-                     glyph.text_position[1] == prev_glyph.text_position[1] ) ||
-                    ( glyph.dx == 0.0 && prev_glyph.dx == 0.0 &&
-                     glyph.text_position[0] == prev_glyph.text_position[0] ) ) ) {
+        if (i == _glyphs.end()) {
+            new_tspan = false;
+        } else {
+            if (glyph.style_changed) {
                 new_tspan = true;
+            } else if ( i != _glyphs.begin() ) {
+                const SvgGlyph& prev_glyph = (*prev_iterator);
+                if ( !( ( glyph.dy == 0.0 && prev_glyph.dy == 0.0 &&
+                         glyph.text_position[1] == prev_glyph.text_position[1] ) ||
+                        ( glyph.dx == 0.0 && prev_glyph.dx == 0.0 &&
+                         glyph.text_position[0] == prev_glyph.text_position[0] ) ) ) {
+                    new_tspan = true;
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -1302,7 +1306,8 @@
                 Inkscape::GC::release(tspan_node);
                 glyphs_in_a_row = 0;
             }
-            if ( i == _glyphs.end() ) {
+            if ( i == _glyphs.end()) { 
+                // prev_iterator must exist because .end() cannot be .begin()
                 sp_repr_css_attr_unref((*prev_iterator).style);
                 break;
             } else {
@@ -1354,6 +1359,7 @@
 	}
 
         glyphs_in_a_row++;
+        prev_iterator = i;
         ++i;
     }
     _container->appendChild(text_node);