diff --git a/library/core/src/fmt/mod.rs b/library/core/src/fmt/mod.rs
index a1bf3a4d7a7..7827d8b3420 100644
--- a/library/core/src/fmt/mod.rs
+++ b/library/core/src/fmt/mod.rs
@@ -1693,49 +1693,37 @@ impl<'a> Formatter<'a> {
     /// ```
     #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
     pub fn pad(&mut self, s: &str) -> Result {
-        // Make sure there's a fast path up front
+        // Make sure there's a fast path up front.
         if self.options.width.is_none() && self.options.precision.is_none() {
             return self.buf.write_str(s);
         }
-        // The `precision` field can be interpreted as a `max-width` for the
+
+        // The `precision` field can be interpreted as a maximum width for the
         // string being formatted.
-        let s = if let Some(max) = self.options.precision {
-            // If our string is longer that the precision, then we must have
-            // truncation. However other flags like `fill`, `width` and `align`
-            // must act as always.
-            if let Some((i, _)) = s.char_indices().nth(max) {
-                // LLVM here can't prove that `..i` won't panic `&s[..i]`, but
-                // we know that it can't panic. Use `get` + `unwrap_or` to avoid
-                // `unsafe` and otherwise don't emit any panic-related code
-                // here.
-                s.get(..i).unwrap_or(s)
-            } else {
-                &s
-            }
+        let max_char_count = self.options.precision.unwrap_or(usize::MAX);
+        let mut iter = s.chars();
+        let char_count = iter.by_ref().take(max_char_count).count();
+
+        // If our string is longer than the maximum width, truncate it and
+        // handle other flags in terms of the truncated string.
+        let byte_len = s.len() - iter.as_str().len();
+        // SAFETY: The index is derived from the offset of `.chars()`, which is
+        // guaranteed to be in-bounds and between character boundaries.
+        let s = unsafe { s.get_unchecked(..byte_len) };
+
+        // The `width` field is more of a minimum width parameter at this point.
+        if let Some(width) = self.options.width
+            && char_count < width
+        {
+            // If we're under the minimum width, then fill up the minimum width
+            // with the specified string + some alignment.
+            let post_padding = self.padding(width - char_count, Alignment::Left)?;
+            self.buf.write_str(s)?;
+            post_padding.write(self)
         } else {
-            &s
-        };
-        // The `width` field is more of a `min-width` parameter at this point.
-        match self.options.width {
-            // If we're under the maximum length, and there's no minimum length
-            // requirements, then we can just emit the string
-            None => self.buf.write_str(s),
-            Some(width) => {
-                let chars_count = s.chars().count();
-                // If we're under the maximum width, check if we're over the minimum
-                // width, if so it's as easy as just emitting the string.
-                if chars_count >= width {
-                    self.buf.write_str(s)
-                }
-                // If we're under both the maximum and the minimum width, then fill
-                // up the minimum width with the specified string + some alignment.
-                else {
-                    let align = Alignment::Left;
-                    let post_padding = self.padding(width - chars_count, align)?;
-                    self.buf.write_str(s)?;
-                    post_padding.write(self)
-                }
-            }
+            // If we're over the minimum width or there is no minimum width, we
+            // can just emit the string.
+            self.buf.write_str(s)
         }
     }