diff --git a/core/src/processing/core/PGraphics.java b/core/src/processing/core/PGraphics.java
index 998062036..e651d7469 100644
--- a/core/src/processing/core/PGraphics.java
+++ b/core/src/processing/core/PGraphics.java
@@ -4595,6 +4595,10 @@ public class PGraphics extends PImage implements PConstants {
    * ignored.
    */
   public void text(String str, float x, float y) {
+    // fix for #5625 pixelDensity(2) breaks the width of a tab ("\t") in JAVA2D
+    // makes the tab width consistent across renderers
+    str = str.replaceAll("\t", "    ");
+
     if (textFont == null) {
       defaultFontOrDeath("text");
     }