diff --git a/lib/text/vtt_text_parser.js b/lib/text/vtt_text_parser.js
index 8590d58158..54379b8018 100644
--- a/lib/text/vtt_text_parser.js
+++ b/lib/text/vtt_text_parser.js
@@ -451,6 +451,11 @@ shaka.text.VttTextParser = class {
    */
   static parseCueStyles(payload, rootCue, styles) {
     const VttTextParser = shaka.text.VttTextParser;
+    // Optimization for unstyled payloads.
+    if (!payload.includes('<')) {
+      rootCue.payload = VttTextParser.htmlUnescape_(payload);
+      return;
+    }
     if (styles.size === 0) {
       VttTextParser.addDefaultTextColor_(styles);
     }