diff --git a/pandas/tools/plotting.py b/pandas/tools/plotting.py
index 9ab4dccbbe61a..ec34a08ea6475 100644
--- a/pandas/tools/plotting.py
+++ b/pandas/tools/plotting.py
@@ -1037,7 +1037,8 @@ def plot_group(grouped, ax):
             by = [by]
 
         fig, axes = _grouped_plot_by_column(plot_group, data, columns=columns,
-                                            by=by, grid=grid, figsize=figsize)
+                                            by=by, grid=grid, figsize=figsize,
+                                            ax=ax)
 
         # Return axes in multiplot case, maybe revisit later # 985
         ret = axes