diff --git a/plotly/matplotlylib/renderer.py b/plotly/matplotlylib/renderer.py
index d55f86ef3c..275ac889b7 100644
--- a/plotly/matplotlylib/renderer.py
+++ b/plotly/matplotlylib/renderer.py
@@ -154,10 +154,16 @@ def open_axes(self, ax, props):
 self.axis_ct += 1
 # set defaults in axes
 xaxis = go.layout.XAxis(
- anchor="y{0}".format(self.axis_ct), zeroline=False, ticks="inside"
+ anchor="y{0}".format(self.axis_ct),
+ zeroline=False,
+ ticks="inside",
+ linecolor="black",
 )
 yaxis = go.layout.YAxis(
- anchor="x{0}".format(self.axis_ct), zeroline=False, ticks="inside"
+ anchor="x{0}".format(self.axis_ct),
+ zeroline=False,
+ ticks="inside",
+ linecolor="black",
 )
 # update defaults with things set in mpl
 mpl_xaxis, mpl_yaxis = mpltools.prep_xy_axis(
diff --git a/plotly/matplotlylib/tests/test_renderer.py b/plotly/matplotlylib/tests/test_renderer.py
index 0d63e4815b..6ba385d8c4 100644
--- a/plotly/matplotlylib/tests/test_renderer.py
+++ b/plotly/matplotlylib/tests/test_renderer.py
@@ -84,3 +84,14 @@ def test_multiple_traces_native_legend():
 assert plotly_fig.data[0].mode == "lines"
 assert plotly_fig.data[1].mode == "markers"
 assert plotly_fig.data[2].mode == "lines+markers"
+
+
+
+def test_axis_linecolor_defaults_to_black():
+ fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+ ax.plot([0, 1], [0, 1])
+
+ plotly_fig = tls.mpl_to_plotly(fig)
+
+ assert plotly_fig.layout.xaxis.linecolor == "black"
+ assert plotly_fig.layout.yaxis.linecolor == "black"
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