diff --git a/miscplot/variability.py b/miscplot/variability.py
index b5df661..a1dc99e 100644
--- a/miscplot/variability.py
+++ b/miscplot/variability.py
@@ -67,10 +67,7 @@ def variability_plot(
     df = df.sort(groups)
     df_groups = df.select(groups).unique(maintain_order=True).with_row_index(name='x_pos')
     df = df.join(df_groups, on=groups, maintain_order='left')
-    max_group_length = df.group_by(groups).len().select('len').max()[0, 0]
-
-    label_stack = get_label_stack(df_groups, groups, wrap_fn)
-    size_lists = get_text_sizes(label_stack)
+    max_group_length = df.group_by(groups).len().select('len').max()[0, 0]   # How many points in the largest x_pos
 
     # Add jitter to the scatterplots-plots
     jitter = 0.2
@@ -87,6 +84,8 @@ def variability_plot(
     y_data = numpy.concatenate(y_lists)
 
     # Get label contents and measure their sizes
+    label_stack = get_label_stack(df_groups, groups, wrap_fn)
+    size_lists = get_text_sizes(label_stack)
     y_ratios = [mainplot_ratios[1]] + get_label_y_ratios(groups, vert_groups, size_lists)
 
     # Build the figure and all axes
@@ -268,23 +267,6 @@ def debounce(func: Callable, delay_s: float = 0.05) -> Callable:
     return debounced_func
 
 
-def get_text_sizes(label_stack: label_stack_t) -> list[NDArray[numpy.float64]]:
-    fig, ax = pyplot.subplots()
-    text_obj = ax.text(0, 0, 'placeholder')
-    renderer = fig.canvas.get_renderer()
-
-    size_lists = []
-    for ll, level in enumerate(label_stack):
-        sizes = []
-        for xmin, xmax, text_value in level:
-            text_obj.set_text(text_value)
-            tbox = text_obj.get_window_extent(renderer=renderer)
-            sizes.append((xmax - xmin + 1, tbox.width, tbox.height))
-        size_lists.append(numpy.array(sizes))
-    pyplot.close(fig)
-    return size_lists
-
-
 def get_label_stack(df_groups: polars.DataFrame, groups: Sequence[str], wrap_fn: Callable) -> label_stack_t:
     """
     For each level, get (xmin_inclusive, xmax_inclusive, wrapped_text_for_label) for all the labels
@@ -307,6 +289,26 @@ def get_label_stack(df_groups: polars.DataFrame, groups: Sequence[str], wrap_fn:
     return label_stack
 
 
+def get_text_sizes(label_stack: label_stack_t) -> list[NDArray[numpy.float64]]:
+    """
+    Transform the label stack (see `get_label_stack` into a stack of (allocated x-span, unrotated x-size, unrotated y-size)
+    """
+    fig, ax = pyplot.subplots()
+    text_obj = ax.text(0, 0, 'placeholder')
+    renderer = fig.canvas.get_renderer()
+
+    size_lists = []
+    for ll, level in enumerate(label_stack):
+        sizes = []
+        for xmin, xmax, text_value in level:
+            text_obj.set_text(text_value)
+            tbox = text_obj.get_window_extent(renderer=renderer)
+            sizes.append((xmax - xmin + 1, tbox.width, tbox.height))
+        size_lists.append(numpy.array(sizes))
+    pyplot.close(fig)
+    return size_lists
+
+
 def get_label_y_ratios(groups: Sequence[str], vert_groups: set[str], size_lists: list[NDArray[numpy.float64]]) -> list[float]:
     """
     For each level, figure out max(rotated_x_size / x_span) and max(rotated_y_size).