diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index f994a9812d71..5eee450a29f9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -1595,7 +1595,7 @@ def axis(self, *args, **kwargs):
         Call signatures::
 
           xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = axis()
-          xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = axis(xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax)
+          xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = axis([xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax])
           xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = axis(option)
           xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = axis(**kwargs)