diff --git a/src/core/core.scale.js b/src/core/core.scale.js
index cb9b33c13bc..5837461f4ab 100644
--- a/src/core/core.scale.js
+++ b/src/core/core.scale.js
@@ -237,13 +237,15 @@ function calculateSpacing(majorIndices, ticks, axisLength, ticksLimit) {
 
 	// If the major ticks are evenly spaced apart, place the minor ticks
 	// so that they divide the major ticks into even chunks
-	if (evenMajorSpacing) {
-		factors = helpers.math._factorize(evenMajorSpacing);
-		for (i = 0, ilen = factors.length - 1; i < ilen; i++) {
-			factor = factors[i];
-			if (factor > spacing) {
-				return factor;
-			}
+	if (!evenMajorSpacing) {
+		return Math.max(spacing, 1);
+	}
+
+	factors = helpers.math._factorize(evenMajorSpacing);
+	for (i = 0, ilen = factors.length - 1; i < ilen; i++) {
+		factor = factors[i];
+		if (factor > spacing) {
+			return factor;
 		}
 	}
 	return Math.max(spacing, 1);