diff --git a/interface/src/Util.cpp b/interface/src/Util.cpp
index 637204dc83..0caf87bc94 100644
--- a/interface/src/Util.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Util.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@
 #include "world.h"
 #include "Util.h"
 
+using namespace std;
+
+// no clue which versions are affected...
+#define WORKAROUND_BROKEN_GLUT_STROKES
+// see http://www.opengl.org/resources/libraries/glut/spec3/node78.html
+static float MONO_STROKE_WIDTH_GLUT = 104.76;
+
 //  Return the azimuth angle in degrees between two points.
 float azimuth_to(glm::vec3 head_pos, glm::vec3 source_pos) {
     return atan2(head_pos.x - source_pos.x, head_pos.z - source_pos.z) * 180.0f / PIf;
@@ -107,12 +114,17 @@ double diffclock(timeval *clock1,timeval *clock2)
 	return diffms;
 }
 
-int widthText(float scale, int mono, char *string) {
+int widthText(float scale, int mono, char const* string) {
     int width = 0;
     if (!mono) {
         width = scale * glutStrokeLength(GLUT_STROKE_ROMAN, (const unsigned char *) string);
     } else {
+#ifndef WORKAROUND_BROKEN_GLUT_STROKES
         width = scale * glutStrokeLength(GLUT_STROKE_MONO_ROMAN, (const unsigned char *) string);
+#else
+        // return value is unreliable, so just calculate it
+        width = scale * float(strlen(string)) * MONO_STROKE_WIDTH_GLUT;
+#endif
     }
     return width;
 }
@@ -134,8 +146,27 @@ void drawtext(int x, int y, float scale, float rotate, float thick, int mono,
     len = (int) strlen(string);
 	for (i = 0; i < len; i++)
 	{
-        if (!mono) glutStrokeCharacter(GLUT_STROKE_ROMAN, int(string[i]));
-        else glutStrokeCharacter(GLUT_STROKE_MONO_ROMAN, int(string[i]));
+        if (!mono) {
+            glutStrokeCharacter(GLUT_STROKE_ROMAN, int(string[i]));
+        } else {
+#ifdef WORKAROUND_BROKEN_GLUT_STROKES
+            if (string[i] != 'm') {
+#endif
+                glutStrokeCharacter(GLUT_STROKE_MONO_ROMAN, int(string[i]));
+#ifdef WORKAROUND_BROKEN_GLUT_STROKES
+            } else {
+                // some glut implementations have a broken 'm'...
+                unsigned char tmpStr[2]; 
+                tmpStr[0] = string[i];
+                tmpStr[1] = '\0';
+                float scale = MONO_STROKE_WIDTH_GLUT / glutStrokeLength(GLUT_STROKE_ROMAN, tmpStr);
+                glScalef(scale, 1.0f, 1.0f);
+                glutStrokeCharacter(GLUT_STROKE_ROMAN, int(string[i]));
+                // stay humble on the stack - might be in projection mode
+                glScalef(1.0f / scale, 1.0f, 1.0f);
+            }
+#endif
+        }
 	}
     glPopMatrix();