diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index ceacd014ef7a..5b1a3d39f493 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ def legend(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
         or::
 
-            line.set_label('Label via method')
             line, = ax.plot([1, 2, 3])
+            line.set_label('Label via method')
             ax.legend()
 
         Specific lines can be excluded from the automatic legend element