diff --git a/outputters/base.lua b/outputters/base.lua
index 0b7db5a1f..d45a7fe55 100644
--- a/outputters/base.lua
+++ b/outputters/base.lua
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ function outputter.setMetadata (_, _, _) end
 
 function outputter.setBookmark (_, _, _) end
 
+function outputter.drawRaw (_) end
+
 function outputter:getOutputFilename ()
   local fname
   if SILE.outputFilename then
diff --git a/outputters/cairo.lua b/outputters/cairo.lua
index fdde05712..c217bcb4c 100644
--- a/outputters/cairo.lua
+++ b/outputters/cairo.lua
@@ -120,4 +120,9 @@ function outputter:debugHbox (hbox, scaledWidth)
   cr:move_to(x, y)
 end
 
+-- untested
+function outputter:drawRaw (literal)
+   cr:show_text(literal)
+end
+
 return outputter
diff --git a/outputters/debug.lua b/outputters/debug.lua
index df72f1dbe..b1c21825a 100644
--- a/outputters/debug.lua
+++ b/outputters/debug.lua
@@ -183,4 +183,8 @@ function outputter:setMetadata (key, value)
    self:_writeline("Set metadata", key, value)
 end
 
+function outputter:drawRaw (literal)
+   self:_writeline("Draw raw", literal)
+end
+
 return outputter
diff --git a/outputters/libtexpdf.lua b/outputters/libtexpdf.lua
index f9b4915eb..b18949744 100644
--- a/outputters/libtexpdf.lua
+++ b/outputters/libtexpdf.lua
@@ -386,4 +386,10 @@ function outputter:setBookmark (dest, title, level)
   pdf.bookmark(d, level)
 end
 
+-- Assumes the caller known what they want to stuff in raw PDF format
+function outputter:drawRaw (literal)
+   self:_ensureInit()
+   pdf.add_content(literal)
+end
+
 return outputter
diff --git a/outputters/podofo.lua b/outputters/podofo.lua
index 593c1afb4..7891248b8 100644
--- a/outputters/podofo.lua
+++ b/outputters/podofo.lua
@@ -106,4 +106,10 @@ function outputter:debugHbox (hbox, scaledWidth)
   --cr:move_to(x, y)
 end
 
+-- untested
+function outputter:drawRaw (literal)
+  local x, y = self:getCursor()
+  painter:DrawText(x, y, literal, string.len(literal)
+end
+
 return outputter
diff --git a/outputters/text.lua b/outputters/text.lua
index b9580c81a..73d56ec9e 100644
--- a/outputters/text.lua
+++ b/outputters/text.lua
@@ -82,4 +82,9 @@ function outputter:drawHbox (value, width)
   end
 end
 
+function outputter.drawRaw (literal)
+   self:_ensureInit
+   outfile:write(literal)
+end
+
 return outputter
diff --git a/packages/pdfstructure/init.lua b/packages/pdfstructure/init.lua
index 9deeba3d0..4749993b5 100644
--- a/packages/pdfstructure/init.lua
+++ b/packages/pdfstructure/init.lua
@@ -126,16 +126,13 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
     if SILE.outputter._name ~= "libtexpdf" then
       SU.error("pdf package requires libtexpdf backend")
     end
-    if type(SILE.outputter._ensureInit) == "function" then
-      SILE.outputter:_ensureInit()
-    end
     SILE.typesetter:pushHbox({
       value = nil,
       height = SILE.measurement(0),
       width = SILE.measurement(0),
       depth = SILE.measurement(0),
       outputYourself = function (_, _, _)
-        pdf.add_content(content[1])
+        SILE.outputter:drawRaw (content[1])
       end
     })
   end)