Index: src_plugins/io_pads/read_high.c
===================================================================
--- src_plugins/io_pads/read_high.c	(revision 34688)
+++ src_plugins/io_pads/read_high.c	(revision 34689)
@@ -324,6 +324,12 @@
 	if ((res = pads_read_coord(rctx, &h)) <= 0) return res;
 	if ((res = pads_read_coord(rctx, &thick)) <= 0) return res;
 
+	TODO("make this configurable:");
+	if ((thick <= 0) || (thick >= h/4)) {
+		PADS_ERROR((RND_MSG_ERROR, "invalid text thickness: %mm (for height %mm) - adjusted\n", thick, h));
+		thick = h/16;
+	}
+
 	/* next field is either mirror (M or N) or hjust */
 	if ((res = pads_read_word(rctx, hjust, sizeof(hjust), 0)) <= 0) return res;
 	if (*hjust == 'N') {