diff --git a/nlmod/plot/plot.py b/nlmod/plot/plot.py
index 176dc81b..0b5f4fc5 100644
--- a/nlmod/plot/plot.py
+++ b/nlmod/plot/plot.py
@@ -40,7 +40,11 @@ def modelgrid(ds, ax=None, **kwargs):
         _, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(10, 10))
         ax.axis("scaled")
     modelgrid = modelgrid_from_ds(ds)
+    extent = None if ax.get_autoscale_on() else ax.axis()
     modelgrid.plot(ax=ax, **kwargs)
+    if extent is not None:
+        ax.axis(extent)
+
     return ax