diff --git a/nvdaHelper/remote/gdiHooks.cpp b/nvdaHelper/remote/gdiHooks.cpp
index 7656189..fbd849b 100644
--- a/nvdaHelper/remote/gdiHooks.cpp
+++ b/nvdaHelper/remote/gdiHooks.cpp
@@ -546,7 +546,10 @@ template<typename charType> int  WINAPI hookClass_TextOut<charType>::fakeFunctio
 	UINT textAlign=GetTextAlign(hdc);
 	POINT pos={x,y};
 	if(textAlign&TA_UPDATECP) GetCurrentPositionEx(hdc,&pos);
-	COLORREF prevColor = GetPixel(hdc, x, y);
+	COLORREF prevColor = CLR_INVALID;
+	if (GetBkMode(hdc) == TRANSPARENT) {
+		prevColor = GetPixel(hdc, x, y);
+	}
 	//Call the real function
 	BOOL res;
 	{
@@ -730,7 +733,10 @@ template<typename charType> BOOL __stdcall hookClass_ExtTextOut<charType>::fakeF
 	UINT textAlign=GetTextAlign(hdc);
 	POINT pos={x,y};
 	if(textAlign&TA_UPDATECP) GetCurrentPositionEx(hdc,&pos);
-	COLORREF prevColor = GetPixel(hdc, x, y);
+	COLORREF prevColor = CLR_INVALID;
+	if (GetBkMode(hdc) == TRANSPARENT) {
+		prevColor = GetPixel(hdc, x, y);
+	}
 	//Call the real function
 	BOOL res;
 	{