diff --git a/src/gtk/window.cpp b/src/gtk/window.cpp
index cf9d48a9f5..04f1e7da3c 100644
--- a/src/gtk/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/window.cpp
@@ -3371,7 +3371,7 @@ int wxWindowGTK::GetCharWidth() const
     PangoFontDescription *desc = m_font.GetNativeFontInfo()->description;
     PangoLayout *layout = pango_layout_new(context);
     pango_layout_set_font_description(layout, desc);
-    pango_layout_set_text(layout, "H", 1);
+    pango_layout_set_text(layout, "g", 1);
     PangoLayoutLine *line = (PangoLayoutLine *)pango_layout_get_lines(layout)->data;
 
     PangoRectangle rect;
@@ -3383,7 +3383,7 @@ int wxWindowGTK::GetCharWidth() const
 #else
     GdkFont *font = m_font.GetInternalFont( 1.0 );
 
-    return gdk_string_width( font, "H" );
+    return gdk_string_width( font, "g" );
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gtk1/window.cpp b/src/gtk1/window.cpp
index cf9d48a9f5..04f1e7da3c 100644
--- a/src/gtk1/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk1/window.cpp
@@ -3371,7 +3371,7 @@ int wxWindowGTK::GetCharWidth() const
     PangoFontDescription *desc = m_font.GetNativeFontInfo()->description;
     PangoLayout *layout = pango_layout_new(context);
     pango_layout_set_font_description(layout, desc);
-    pango_layout_set_text(layout, "H", 1);
+    pango_layout_set_text(layout, "g", 1);
     PangoLayoutLine *line = (PangoLayoutLine *)pango_layout_get_lines(layout)->data;
 
     PangoRectangle rect;
@@ -3383,7 +3383,7 @@ int wxWindowGTK::GetCharWidth() const
 #else
     GdkFont *font = m_font.GetInternalFont( 1.0 );
 
-    return gdk_string_width( font, "H" );
+    return gdk_string_width( font, "g" );
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/src/mac/carbon/dc.cpp b/src/mac/carbon/dc.cpp
index 126dea09aa..15bf719bd1 100644
--- a/src/mac/carbon/dc.cpp
+++ b/src/mac/carbon/dc.cpp
@@ -1679,7 +1679,7 @@ wxCoord   wxDC::GetCharWidth(void) const
     if ( UMAGetSystemVersion() < 0x1000 || ((wxFont*)&m_font)->GetNoAntiAliasing() )
         useGetThemeText = false ;
 #endif
-    char text[] = "H" ;
+    char text[] = "g" ;
 #if TARGET_CARBON
     if ( useGetThemeText )
     {
diff --git a/src/mac/dc.cpp b/src/mac/dc.cpp
index 126dea09aa..15bf719bd1 100644
--- a/src/mac/dc.cpp
+++ b/src/mac/dc.cpp
@@ -1679,7 +1679,7 @@ wxCoord   wxDC::GetCharWidth(void) const
     if ( UMAGetSystemVersion() < 0x1000 || ((wxFont*)&m_font)->GetNoAntiAliasing() )
         useGetThemeText = false ;
 #endif
-    char text[] = "H" ;
+    char text[] = "g" ;
 #if TARGET_CARBON
     if ( useGetThemeText )
     {