diff --git a/holoviews/plotting/mpl/element.py b/holoviews/plotting/mpl/element.py
index cc9a69abc0..b4424b3c1b 100644
--- a/holoviews/plotting/mpl/element.py
+++ b/holoviews/plotting/mpl/element.py
@@ -174,9 +174,6 @@ def _finalize_axis(self, key, title=None, dimensions=None, ranges=None, xticks=N
                 if dimensions:
                     self._set_labels(axis, dimensions, xlabel, ylabel, zlabel)
 
-                # Set axes limits
-                self._set_axis_limits(axis, element, subplots, ranges)
-
                 if not subplots:
                     legend = axis.get_legend()
                     if legend:
@@ -199,6 +196,9 @@ def _finalize_axis(self, key, title=None, dimensions=None, ranges=None, xticks=N
                 if self.apply_ticks:
                     self._finalize_ticks(axis, dimensions, xticks, yticks, zticks)
 
+                # Set axes limits
+                self._set_axis_limits(axis, element, subplots, ranges)
+
             # Apply aspects
             self._set_aspect(axis, self.aspect)