diff --git a/jquery.flot.js b/jquery.flot.js
index 13455bd..52c2d31 100644
--- a/jquery.flot.js
+++ b/jquery.flot.js
@@ -2100,9 +2100,6 @@ Licensed under the MIT license.
         function drawAxisLabels() {
 
             $.each(allAxes(), function (_, axis) {
-                if (!axis.show || axis.ticks.length == 0)
-                    return;
-
                 var box = axis.box,
                     legacyStyles = axis.direction + "Axis " + axis.direction + axis.n + "Axis",
                     layer = "flot-" + axis.direction + "-axis flot-" + axis.direction + axis.n + "-axis " + legacyStyles,
@@ -2111,6 +2108,9 @@ Licensed under the MIT license.
 
                 surface.removeText(layer);
 
+                if (!axis.show || axis.ticks.length == 0)
+                    return;
+
                 for (var i = 0; i < axis.ticks.length; ++i) {
 
                     tick = axis.ticks[i];