diff --git a/src/core/core.scale.js b/src/core/core.scale.js
index 45c3caf357b..26f7b7e4c72 100644
--- a/src/core/core.scale.js
+++ b/src/core/core.scale.js
@@ -243,14 +243,14 @@ var Scale = Element.extend({
 	/**
 	 * @param {number} maxWidth - the max width in pixels
 	 * @param {number} maxHeight - the max height in pixels
-	 * @param {object} margins - the space between the edge of the scale and edge of the chart
+	 * @param {object} margins - the space between the edge of the other scales and edge of the chart
 	 *   This space comes from two sources:
 	 *     - padding - space that's required to show the labels at the edges of the scale
 	 *     - thickness of scales or legends in another orientation
 	 */
 	update: function(maxWidth, maxHeight, margins) {
 		var me = this;
-		var optionTicks = me.options.ticks;
+		var tickOpts = me.options.ticks;
 		var i, ilen, labels, ticks;
 
 		// Update Lifecycle - Probably don't want to ever extend or overwrite this function ;)
@@ -301,6 +301,13 @@ var Scale = Element.extend({
 		} else {
 			// Support old implementations (that modified `this.ticks` directly in buildTicks)
 			me.ticks = me.afterBuildTicks(me.ticks);
+			ticks = [];
+			for (i = 0, ilen = me.ticks.length; i < ilen; ++i) {
+				ticks.push({
+					value: me.ticks[i],
+					major: false
+				});
+			}
 		}
 
 		me.beforeTickToLabelConversion();
@@ -312,20 +319,9 @@ var Scale = Element.extend({
 
 		me.afterTickToLabelConversion();
 
+		// IMPORTANT: below this point, we consider that `this.ticks` will NEVER change!
 		me.ticks = labels;   // BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY
 
-		// IMPORTANT: from this point, we consider that `this.ticks` will NEVER change!
-
-		if (!ticks) {
-			ticks = [];
-			for (i = 0, ilen = labels.length; i < ilen; ++i) {
-				ticks.push({
-					value: me.ticks[i],
-					major: false
-				});
-			}
-		}
-
 		// BACKWARD COMPAT: synchronize `_ticks` with labels (so potentially `this.ticks`)
 		for (i = 0, ilen = labels.length; i < ilen; ++i) {
 			ticks[i].label = labels[i];
@@ -342,7 +338,7 @@ var Scale = Element.extend({
 		me.fit();
 		me.afterFit();
 		// Auto-skip
-		me._ticks = optionTicks.display && optionTicks.autoSkip ? me._autoSkip(me.getTicks()) : me.getTicks();
+		me._ticks = tickOpts.display && tickOpts.autoSkip ? me._autoSkip(me.getTicks()) : me.getTicks();
 
 		me.afterUpdate();