diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/mix_window.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/mix_window.rs
index 7cc98c7..5ef3575 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/mix_window.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/mix_window.rs
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ fn channel_levels(ui: &Ui, key: (&str, u64), peaks: &[f32], n: usize) -> Vec<f32
     lv
 }
 
-/// Pro Tools' names for sections in strips too narrow for the full ones.
+/// Pro Tools' names for sections in narrow strips, and in any strip too narrow for the full ones.
 fn short_label(text: &str) -> &str {
     match text {
         "INSERTS A-E" => "I A-E",
@@ -115,9 +115,14 @@ fn short_label(text: &str) -> &str {
     }
 }
 
-fn section_label(ui: &Ui, r: Rect, text: &str) {
+/// A section's caption. Narrow strips always use the short names, as Pro Tools' Narrow Mix does, so
+/// every narrow strip reads the same whatever the UI font: measuring alone left the full name in
+/// place wherever a narrower font (egui's built-in face on a system with no fonts) happened to fit.
+/// Other strips shorten a name only when it doesn't fit with 4 pt to spare on each side.
+fn section_label(ui: &Ui, r: Rect, text: &str, narrow: bool) {
     let p = ui.painter();
     let color = Tokens::current().section_label;
+    let text = if narrow { short_label(text) } else { text };
     let mut galley = p.layout_no_wrap(text.to_owned(), bold(10.0), color);
     if galley.size().x > r.width() - 8.0 {
         galley = p.layout_no_wrap(short_label(text).to_owned(), bold(10.0), color);
@@ -169,7 +174,7 @@ fn strip(app: &mut SoundApp, ui: &mut Ui, id: TrackId, snap: Option<&MeterSnapsh
         // Input gain stage ahead of the inserts (the track's trim).
         let sec = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0, y), vec2(inner_w, 34.0));
         inset(ui.painter(), sec, t.strip_section);
-        section_label(ui, sec, "PREAMP");
+        section_label(ui, sec, "PREAMP", narrow);
         if has_input {
             let kr = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0 + 6.0, sec.min.y + 15.0), vec2(inner_w - 12.0, 16.0));
             let mut db = track.mixer.trim_db;
@@ -187,7 +192,7 @@ fn strip(app: &mut SoundApp, ui: &mut Ui, id: TrackId, snap: Option<&MeterSnapsh
     if all || has("instruments") {
         let sec = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0, y), vec2(inner_w, 34.0));
         inset(ui.painter(), sec, t.strip_section);
-        section_label(ui, sec, "INSTRUMENT");
+        section_label(ui, sec, "INSTRUMENT", narrow);
         let sr = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0 + 2.0, sec.min.y + 16.0), vec2(inner_w - 4.0, 15.0));
         let slot = track.mixer.inserts.iter().position(|i| i.as_ref().is_some_and(|i| plugin_info(&i.plugin).is_some_and(|p| p.is_instrument)));
         match slot {
@@ -223,7 +228,7 @@ fn strip(app: &mut SoundApp, ui: &mut Ui, id: TrackId, snap: Option<&MeterSnapsh
         }
         let sec = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0, y), vec2(inner_w, 16.0 + 5.0 * 17.0));
         inset(ui.painter(), sec, t.strip_section);
-        section_label(ui, sec, title);
+        section_label(ui, sec, title, narrow);
         for k in 0..5 {
             let sr = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0 + 2.0, sec.min.y + 15.0 + k as f32 * 17.0), vec2(inner_w - 4.0, 15.0));
             if is_send {
@@ -276,7 +281,7 @@ fn strip(app: &mut SoundApp, ui: &mut Ui, id: TrackId, snap: Option<&MeterSnapsh
     if all || has("io") {
         let sec = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0, y), vec2(inner_w, 16.0 + 2.0 * 18.0 + 30.0));
         inset(ui.painter(), sec, t.strip_section);
-        section_label(ui, sec, "I / O");
+        section_label(ui, sec, "I / O", narrow);
         let in_r = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0 + 2.0, sec.min.y + 15.0), vec2(inner_w - 4.0, 16.0));
         let out_r = Rect::from_min_size(pos2(x0 + 2.0, sec.min.y + 33.0), vec2(inner_w - 4.0, 16.0));
         let mut c = ui.new_child(egui::UiBuilder::new().id_salt(("mix-input", id.0)).max_rect(in_r));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/mix_narrow_headers.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/mix_narrow_headers.rs
index 5b19c91..6e248c0 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/mix_narrow_headers.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/mix_narrow_headers.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use egui::{Shape, vec2};
+use egui::{FontDefinitions, FontFamily, Shape, vec2};
 use serde_json::json;
 use soundcraft_ui_egui::mix_window::strip_width;
 use soundcraft_ui_egui::{Services, SoundApp};
@@ -6,7 +6,20 @@ use soundcraft_ui_egui::{Services, SoundApp};
 const FULL: [&str; 7] = ["INSERTS A-E", "INSERTS F-J", "SENDS A-E", "SENDS F-J", "INSTRUMENT", "comments", "no group"];
 const SHORT: [&str; 6] = ["I A-E", "I F-J", "S A-E", "S F-J", "INST", "nogrp"];
 
+/// egui's built-in fonts only, as on a system with no fonts installed (the FreeBSD CI VM): the
+/// "bold" family is then the regular built-in face, narrower than any system bold.
+fn builtin_fonts() -> FontDefinitions {
+    let mut fonts = FontDefinitions::default();
+    let base = fonts.families.get(&FontFamily::Proportional).cloned().unwrap_or_default();
+    fonts.families.insert(FontFamily::Name("bold".into()), base);
+    fonts
+}
+
 fn painted_labels(narrow: bool) -> Vec<(String, f32, bool)> {
+    painted_labels_with(narrow, None)
+}
+
+fn painted_labels_with(narrow: bool, fonts: Option<FontDefinitions>) -> Vec<(String, f32, bool)> {
     let mut app = SoundApp::new(soundcraft_engine::demo::demo_engine(), None, Services::default());
     app.run("window.mix", json!({})).unwrap();
     app.run("view.mix_section", json!({"section": "all"})).unwrap();
@@ -15,6 +28,9 @@ fn painted_labels(narrow: bool) -> Vec<(String, f32, bool)> {
     let mut harness = egui_kittest::Harness::builder().with_size(vec2(1600.0, 1000.0)).build_ui_state(
         |ui, app: &mut SoundApp| {
             app.logic(ui.ctx());
+            if let Some(f) = &fonts {
+                ui.ctx().set_fonts(f.clone());
+            }
             app.ui(ui);
         },
         app,
@@ -35,18 +51,28 @@ fn painted_labels(narrow: bool) -> Vec<(String, f32, bool)> {
         .collect()
 }
 
-#[test]
-fn narrow_strips_use_short_section_names_that_fit() {
-    let labels = painted_labels(true);
+fn assert_narrow_labels(labels: &[(String, f32, bool)]) {
     for name in SHORT {
         assert!(labels.iter().any(|(text, ..)| text == name), "{name} missing in {labels:?}");
     }
-    for (text, width, elided) in &labels {
+    for (text, width, elided) in labels {
         assert!(SHORT.contains(&text.as_str()), "{text} painted in a narrow strip, where it doesn't fit");
         assert!(*width <= strip_width(true) - 16.0 && !elided, "{text} is {width} pt wide, elided: {elided}");
     }
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn narrow_strips_use_short_section_names_that_fit() {
+    assert_narrow_labels(&painted_labels(true));
+}
+
+/// With a narrower font SENDS A-E fits a narrow strip, but narrow strips still use the short names
+/// (this failed on FreeBSD, whose CI VM has no fonts installed).
+#[test]
+fn narrow_strips_use_short_section_names_with_the_builtin_fonts() {
+    assert_narrow_labels(&painted_labels_with(true, Some(builtin_fonts())));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn normal_strips_keep_the_full_section_names() {
     let labels = painted_labels(false);