diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/otlLib/builder.py b/Lib/fontTools/otlLib/builder.py
index 64cbc5e81..153e20e6f 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/otlLib/builder.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/otlLib/builder.py
@@ -377,12 +377,6 @@ class ChainContextualBuilder(LookupBuilder):
             candidates = [None, None, None, []]
             for rule in ruleset.rules:
                 candidates[3].append(self.buildFormat3Subtable(rule, chaining))
-            # Check we can build it
-            try:
-                self.getCompiledSize_(candidates[3])
-            except Exception as e:
-                log.warning("Contextual format 3 at %s overflowed" % str(self.location))
-                candidates[3] = None
 
             # Can we express the whole ruleset as a format 2 subtable?
             classdefs = ruleset.format2ClassDefs()
@@ -390,21 +384,19 @@ class ChainContextualBuilder(LookupBuilder):
                 candidates[2] = [
                     self.buildFormat2Subtable(ruleset, classdefs, chaining)
                 ]
-                # Check we can build it
-                try:
-                    self.getCompiledSize_(candidates[2])
-                except Exception as e:
-                    log.warning("Contextual format 2 at %s overflowed (%s)" % (str(self.location), e))
-                    candidates[2] = None
 
             if not ruleset.hasAnyGlyphClasses:
                 candidates[1] = [self.buildFormat1Subtable(ruleset, chaining)]
-                # Check we can build it
+
+            for i in [1, 2, 3]:
                 try:
-                    self.getCompiledSize_(candidates[1])
+                    self.getCompiledSize_(candidates[i])
                 except Exception as e:
-                    log.warning("Contextual format 1 at %s overflowed" % str(self.location))
-                    candidates[1] = None
+                    log.warning(
+                        "Contextual format %i at %s overflowed (%s)"
+                        % (i, str(self.location), e)
+                    )
+                    candidates[i] = None
 
             candidates = [x for x in candidates if x is not None]
             if not candidates: