diff --git a/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb b/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
index b2fa614..41386ea 100644
--- a/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/graphics/text.rb
@@ -22,9 +22,10 @@ module Squib
 
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private
-    def compute_valign(layout, valign)
+    def compute_valign(layout, valign, embed_h)
       return 0 unless layout.height > 0
       ink_extents = layout.extents[1]
+      ink_extents.height = embed_h * Pango::SCALE if ink_extents.height == 0 #JUST embed, bug #134
       case valign.to_s.downcase
       when 'middle'
         Pango.pixels( (layout.height - ink_extents.height) / 2)
@@ -50,6 +51,12 @@ module Squib
       layout.height = height * Pango::SCALE unless height.nil? || height == :auto
     end
 
+    def max_embed_height(embed_draws)
+      embed_draws.inject(0) do |max, ed|
+        ed[:h] > max ? ed[:h] : max
+      end
+    end
+
     # :nodoc:
     # @api private
     def next_embed(keys, str)
@@ -97,7 +104,9 @@ module Squib
         rect = layout.index_to_pos(search[:index])
         x    = Pango.pixels(rect.x) + search[:rule][:adjust].dx[@index]
         y    = Pango.pixels(rect.y) + search[:rule][:adjust].dy[@index]
-        draw_calls << {x: x, y: y, draw: search[:rule][:draw]} # defer drawing until we've valigned
+        h    = rule[:box].height[@index]
+        draw_calls << {x: x, y: y, h: h, # defer drawing until we've valigned
+                       draw: search[:rule][:draw]}
       end
       return draw_calls
     end
@@ -148,7 +157,7 @@ module Squib
 
         embed_draws    = process_embeds(embed, para.str, layout)
 
-        vertical_start = compute_valign(layout, para.valign)
+        vertical_start = compute_valign(layout, para.valign, max_embed_height(embed_draws))
         cc.move_to(0, vertical_start) #TODO clean this up a bit
 
         stroke_outline!(cc, layout, draw) if draw.stroke_strategy == :stroke_first
diff --git a/samples/bug134.rb b/samples/bug134.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd95d62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/bug134.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+require 'squib'
+require 'game_icons'
+
+Squib::Deck.new(cards: 1) do
+  rect
+  text str: 'foo', x: 275, y: 75, width: 500, height: 500, valign: :middle, hint: :blue
+  text(str: '(heart)(heart2)',
+       x: 75, y: 75, width: 500, height: 500,
+       valign: :middle, hint: :red) do |embed|
+    embed.svg key: '(heart)', width: 50, height: 50, data: GameIcons.get('glass-heart').string
+    embed.svg key: '(heart2)', width: 50, height: 50, data: GameIcons.get('glass-heart').string
+  end
+  save_png prefix: 'bug_134_'
+end