diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index eedc8fd..76c8dbd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Ignoring (invalid) path constructors that do not begin with `m` ([#749](https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/pull/749))
+
+## [20220506]
+
+### Fixed
+
 - `IndexError` when handling invalid bfrange code map in
   CMap ([#731](https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/pull/731))
 - `TypeError` in lzw.py when `self.table` is not set ([#732](https://github.com/pdfminer/pdfminer.six/pull/732))
diff --git a/pdfminer/converter.py b/pdfminer/converter.py
index a414799..3da2fcb 100644
--- a/pdfminer/converter.py
+++ b/pdfminer/converter.py
@@ -109,7 +109,16 @@ class PDFLayoutAnalyzer(PDFTextDevice):
         """Paint paths described in section 4.4 of the PDF reference manual"""
         shape = "".join(x[0] for x in path)
 
-        if shape.count("m") > 1:
+        if shape[:1] != "m":
+            # Per PDF Reference Section 4.4.1, "path construction operators may
+            # be invoked in any sequence, but the first one invoked must be m
+            # or re to begin a new subpath." Since pdfminer.six already
+            # converts all `re` (rectangle) operators to their equivelent
+            # `mlllh` representation, paths ingested by `.paint_path(...)` that
+            # do not begin with the `m` operator are invalid.
+            pass
+
+        elif shape.count("m") > 1:
             # recurse if there are multiple m's in this shape
             for m in re.finditer(r"m[^m]+", shape):
                 subpath = path[m.start(0) : m.end(0)]
diff --git a/tests/test_converter.py b/tests/test_converter.py
index e9d18e8..bae442f 100644
--- a/tests/test_converter.py
+++ b/tests/test_converter.py
@@ -215,6 +215,15 @@ class TestPaintPath:
             (71.41, 434.89),
         ]
 
+    def test_paint_path_without_starting_m(self):
+        gs = PDFGraphicState()
+        analyzer = self._get_analyzer()
+        analyzer.cur_item = LTContainer([0, 100, 0, 100])
+        paths = [[("h",)], [("l", 72.41, 433.89), ("l", 82.41, 433.89), ("h",)]]
+        for path in paths:
+            analyzer.paint_path(gs, False, False, False, path)
+        assert len(analyzer.cur_item._objs) == 0
+
 
 class TestBinaryDetector:
     def test_stringio(self):