diff --git a/lib/text/vtt_text_parser.js b/lib/text/vtt_text_parser.js
index 1caba9196e..6a12adb513 100644
--- a/lib/text/vtt_text_parser.js
+++ b/lib/text/vtt_text_parser.js
@@ -403,6 +403,8 @@ shaka.text.VttTextParser = class {
       cue = new shaka.text.Cue(start, end, '');
     }
 
+    VttTextParser.parseCueStyles(payload, cue, styles);
+
     // Parse optional settings.
     parser.skipWhitespace();
     let word = parser.readWord();
@@ -416,8 +418,6 @@ shaka.text.VttTextParser = class {
       word = parser.readWord();
     }
 
-    VttTextParser.parseCueStyles(payload, cue, styles);
-
     if (id != null) {
       cue.id = id;
     }
diff --git a/test/text/vtt_text_parser_unit.js b/test/text/vtt_text_parser_unit.js
index 0975cc914a..936bcd02c1 100644
--- a/test/text/vtt_text_parser_unit.js
+++ b/test/text/vtt_text_parser_unit.js
@@ -207,30 +207,15 @@ describe('VttTextParser', () => {
           {
             startTime: 40,
             endTime: 50,
-            payload: '',
+            payload: 'Test2',
             writingMode: Cue.writingMode.VERTICAL_LEFT_TO_RIGHT,
-            nestedCues: [
-              {
-                startTime: 40,
-                endTime: 50,
-                payload: 'Test',
-                writingMode: Cue.writingMode.VERTICAL_LEFT_TO_RIGHT,
-              },
-              {
-                startTime: 40,
-                endTime: 50,
-                payload: '2',
-                fontWeight: Cue.fontWeight.BOLD,
-                writingMode: Cue.writingMode.VERTICAL_LEFT_TO_RIGHT,
-              },
-            ],
           },
         ],
         'WEBVTT\n\n' +
         '00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:40.000 vertical:rl\n' +
         'Test\n\n' +
         '00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:50.000 vertical:lr\n' +
-        'Test<b>2</b>',
+        'Test2',
         {periodStart: 0, segmentStart: 0, segmentEnd: 0, vttOffset: 0});
   });