diff --git a/weasyprint/document.py b/weasyprint/document.py
index de43a89bd..b72e3b090 100644
--- a/weasyprint/document.py
+++ b/weasyprint/document.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 from .layout import LayoutContext, layout_document
 from .logger import PROGRESS_LOGGER
 from .matrix import Matrix
-from .pdf import generate_pdf
+from .pdf import VARIANTS, generate_pdf
 from .text.fonts import FontConfiguration
 
 
@@ -391,17 +391,25 @@ def write_pdf(self, target=None, zoom=1, finisher=None, **options):
 
         identifier = options['pdf_identifier']
         compress = not options['uncompressed_pdf']
+        version = options['pdf_version']
+        variant = options['pdf_variant']
+
+        # Set default PDF version for PDF variants.
+        if version is None and variant:
+            _, properties = VARIANTS[variant]
+            if 'version' in properties:
+                version = properties['version']
 
         if finisher:
             finisher(self, pdf)
 
         if target is None:
             output = io.BytesIO()
-            pdf.write(output, pdf.version, identifier, compress)
+            pdf.write(output, version, identifier, compress)
             return output.getvalue()
 
         if hasattr(target, 'write'):
-            pdf.write(target, pdf.version, identifier, compress)
+            pdf.write(target, version, identifier, compress)
         else:
             with open(target, 'wb') as fd:
-                pdf.write(fd, pdf.version, identifier, compress)
+                pdf.write(fd, version, identifier, compress)
diff --git a/weasyprint/pdf/__init__.py b/weasyprint/pdf/__init__.py
index da6845e64..019954587 100644
--- a/weasyprint/pdf/__init__.py
+++ b/weasyprint/pdf/__init__.py
@@ -115,16 +115,13 @@ def generate_pdf(document, target, zoom, **options):
 
     # Set properties according to PDF variants
     mark = False
-    variant, version = options['pdf_variant'], options['pdf_version']
+    variant = options['pdf_variant']
     if variant:
         variant_function, properties = VARIANTS[variant]
-        if 'version' in properties:
-            version = properties['version']
         if 'mark' in properties:
             mark = properties['mark']
 
-    identifier = options['pdf_identifier']
-    pdf = pydyf.PDF((version or '1.7'), identifier)
+    pdf = pydyf.PDF()
     states = pydyf.Dictionary()
     x_objects = pydyf.Dictionary()
     patterns = pydyf.Dictionary()
@@ -268,9 +265,8 @@ def generate_pdf(document, target, zoom, **options):
 
     # Embedded fonts
     subset = not options['full_fonts']
-    hinting = options['hinting']
     pdf_fonts = build_fonts_dictionary(
-        pdf, document.fonts, compress, subset, hinting)
+        pdf, document.fonts, compress, subset, options)
     pdf.add_object(pdf_fonts)
     if 'AcroForm' in pdf.catalog:
         # Include Dingbats for forms
diff --git a/weasyprint/pdf/fonts.py b/weasyprint/pdf/fonts.py
index 5d6276c8f..69c795802 100644
--- a/weasyprint/pdf/fonts.py
+++ b/weasyprint/pdf/fonts.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from ..logger import LOGGER
 
 
-def build_fonts_dictionary(pdf, fonts, compress_pdf, subset, hinting):
+def build_fonts_dictionary(pdf, fonts, compress_pdf, subset, options):
     pdf_fonts = pydyf.Dictionary()
     fonts_by_file_hash = {}
     for font in fonts.values():
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def build_fonts_dictionary(pdf, fonts, compress_pdf, subset, hinting):
         if subset and not font.used_in_forms:
             for file_font in file_fonts:
                 cmap = {**cmap, **file_font.cmap}
-        font.clean(cmap, hinting)
+        font.clean(cmap, options['hinting'])
 
         # Include font
         if font.type == 'otf':
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def build_fonts_dictionary(pdf, fonts, compress_pdf, subset, hinting):
                 'StemH': font.stemh,
                 font_file: font_references_by_file_hash[font.hash],
             })
-            if pdf.version <= b'1.4':
+            if str(options['pdf_version']) <= '1.4':  # Cast for bytes and None
                 cids = sorted(font.widths)
                 padded_width = int(ceil((cids[-1] + 1) / 8))
                 bits = ['0'] * padded_width * 8