diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
index 624ec23e5..016073f5c 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
@@ -1124,13 +1124,24 @@ def normalizeAxisLimits(varfont, axisLimits, usingAvar=True):
     avarSegments = {}
     if usingAvar and "avar" in varfont:
         avarSegments = varfont["avar"].segments
+
+    for axis_tag, (_, default, _) in axes.items():
+        value = axisLimits[axis_tag]
+        if isinstance(value, tuple):
+            minV, maxV = value
+            if minV > default or maxV < default:
+                raise NotImplementedError(
+                    f"Unsupported range {axis_tag}={minV:g}:{maxV:g}; "
+                    f"can't change default position ({axis_tag}={default:g})"
+                )
+
     normalizedLimits = {}
     for axis_tag, triple in axes.items():
         avarMapping = avarSegments.get(axis_tag, None)
         value = axisLimits[axis_tag]
         if isinstance(value, tuple):
             normalizedLimits[axis_tag] = NormalizedAxisRange(
-                *(normalize(v, triple, avarMapping) for v in axisLimits[axis_tag])
+                *(normalize(v, triple, avarMapping) for v in value)
             )
         else:
             normalizedLimits[axis_tag] = normalize(value, triple, avarMapping)
@@ -1192,15 +1203,15 @@ def instantiateVariableFont(
     """
     sanityCheckVariableTables(varfont)
 
-    if not inplace:
-        varfont = deepcopy(varfont)
-
     axisLimits = populateAxisDefaults(varfont, axisLimits)
 
     normalizedLimits = normalizeAxisLimits(varfont, axisLimits)
 
     log.info("Normalized limits: %s", normalizedLimits)
 
+    if not inplace:
+        varfont = deepcopy(varfont)
+
     if "gvar" in varfont:
         instantiateGvar(varfont, normalizedLimits, optimize=optimize)
 
diff --git a/Tests/varLib/instancer_test.py b/Tests/varLib/instancer_test.py
index d15742297..3421b1165 100644
--- a/Tests/varLib/instancer_test.py
+++ b/Tests/varLib/instancer_test.py
@@ -1852,6 +1852,11 @@ def test_normalizeAxisLimits_tuple(varfont):
     assert normalized == {"wght": (-1.0, 0)}
 
 
+def test_normalizeAxisLimits_unsupported_range(varfont):
+    with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError, match="Unsupported range"):
+        instancer.normalizeAxisLimits(varfont, {"wght": (401, 700)})
+
+
 def test_normalizeAxisLimits_no_avar(varfont):
     del varfont["avar"]