diff --git a/mac/label.py b/mac/label.py
index c54562a..06b373a 100644
--- a/mac/label.py
+++ b/mac/label.py
@@ -96,13 +96,26 @@ def _w(d, s, f):
 
 
 def fit(d, s, f, maxw):
-    """Trim with an ellipsis until it fits maxw dots."""
+    """Make `s` fit `maxw` dots. Returns (text, font).
+
+    SHRINK before trimming. This used to ellipsise straight away, so a label read
+    "Electro, Synth-…" -- the one line a customer scans for, cut off while the extension's
+    own label engine printed it whole. Step the font down to ~70% of its authored size
+    (still legible at 203 dpi) and only ellipsise if it still will not fit."""
     s = (s or '').strip()
     if not s or _w(d, s, f) <= maxw:
-        return s
+        return s, f
+    size, path = getattr(f, 'size', None), getattr(f, 'path', None)
+    if size and path:
+        floor = max(7, int(size * 0.7))
+        for sz in range(size - 1, floor - 1, -1):
+            g = ImageFont.truetype(path, sz)
+            if _w(d, s, g) <= maxw:
+                return s, g
+        f = ImageFont.truetype(path, floor)
     while s and _w(d, s + '…', f) > maxw:
         s = s[:-1]
-    return (s + '…') if s else ''
+    return ((s.rstrip() + '…') if s else ''), f
 
 
 def _qr(data, maxpx):
@@ -176,11 +189,13 @@ def render_art(fields, prof):
         if y + size > H - pad - info_h:
             break
         f = font(kind, size)
-        d.text((lx, y), fit(d, val, f, avail), font=f, fill=0)
+        tv, fv = fit(d, val, f, avail)
+        d.text((lx, y), tv, font=fv, fill=0)
         y += size + 2
     if info:
         f = font('regular', S(0.095))
-        d.text((lx, H - pad - S(0.095)), fit(d, info, f, avail), font=f, fill=0)
+        ti, fi = fit(d, info, f, avail)
+        d.text((lx, H - pad - S(0.095)), ti, font=fi, fill=0)
     return img