matplotlib
diff --git a/‎lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
Lines changed: 32 additions & 35 deletions b/‎lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
Lines changed: 32 additions & 35 deletions
@@ -4224,29 +4224,33 @@ def _parse_scatter_color_args(c, edgecolors, kwargs, xsize,
             c = (facecolors if facecolors is not None
                  else "b" if rcParams['_internal.classic_mode']
                  else get_next_color_func())
-
-        # After this block, c_array will be None unless
-        # c is an array for mapping.  The potential ambiguity
-        # with a sequence of 3 or 4 numbers is resolved in
-        # favor of mapping, not rgb or rgba.
-        # Convenience vars to track shape mismatch *and* conversion failures.
+        c_is_string_or_strings = (
+            isinstance(c, str)
+            or (isinstance(c, collections.abc.Iterable) and len(c) > 0
+                and isinstance(cbook.safe_first_element(c), str)))
+
+        # After this block, c_array will be None unless c is an array for
+        # mapping.  The potential ambiguity with a sequence of 3 or 4 numbers
+        # is resolved in favor of mapping, not rgb or rgba.
+
+        def invalid_shape_exception(csize, nsize):
+            return ValueError(
+                f"'c' argument has {csize} elements, which is inconsistent "
+                f"with 'x' and 'y' with size {xsize}.")
+
+        c_array = None
+        # Convenience var to track shape mismatch *and* conversion failures.
         valid_shape = True  # will be put to the test!
-        csize = -1  # Number of colors; used for some exceptions.
-
-        if (c_was_none or
-                kwcolor is not None or
-                isinstance(c, str) or
-                (isinstance(c, collections.abc.Iterable) and
-                     len(c) > 0 and
-                     isinstance(cbook.safe_first_element(c), str))):
-            c_array = None
-        else:
+        if not c_was_none and kwcolor is None and not c_is_string_or_strings:
             try:  # First, does 'c' look suitable for value-mapping?
                 c_array = np.asanyarray(c, dtype=float)
+            except ValueError:
+                pass  # Failed to convert to float array; must be color specs.
+            else:
                 csize = c_array.size
                 if csize == xsize:
                     c = c_array.ravel()
-                else:
+                else:  # Wrong size; it must not be intended for mapping.
                     if c_array.shape in ((3,), (4,)):
                         _log.warning(
                             "'c' argument looks like a single numeric RGB or "
@@ -4255,32 +4259,25 @@ def _parse_scatter_color_args(c, edgecolors, kwargs, xsize,
                             "matches with 'x' & 'y'.  Please use a 2-D array "
                             "with a single row if you really want to specify "
                             "the same RGB or RGBA value for all points.")
-                    # Wrong size; it must not be intended for mapping.
                     valid_shape = False
                     c_array = None
-            except ValueError:
-                # Failed to make a floating-point array; c must be color specs.
-                c_array = None
         if c_array is None:
-            try:  # Then is 'c' acceptable as PathCollection facecolors?
+            try:  # Is 'c' acceptable as PathCollection facecolors?
                 colors = mcolors.to_rgba_array(c)
+            except ValueError:
+                if not valid_shape:
+                    raise invalid_shape_exception(csize, xsize)
+                # Both the mapping *and* the RGBA conversion failed: pretty
+                # severe failure => one may appreciate a verbose feedback.
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"'c' argument must be a mpl color, a sequence of mpl "
+                    f"colors, or a sequence of numbers, not {c}.")
+            else:
                 csize = colors.shape[0]
                 if csize not in (0, 1, xsize):
                     # NB: remember that a single color is also acceptable.
                     # Besides *colors* will be an empty array if c == 'none'.
-                    valid_shape = False
-                    raise ValueError
-            except ValueError:
-                if not valid_shape:  # but at least one conversion succeeded.
-                    raise ValueError(
-                        f"'c' argument has {csize} elements, which is "
-                        "inconsistent with 'x' and 'y' with size {xsize}.")
-                else:
-                    # Both the mapping *and* the RGBA conversion failed: pretty
-                    # severe failure => one may appreciate a verbose feedback.
-                    raise ValueError(
-                        f"'c' argument must be a mpl color, a sequence of mpl "
-                        "colors, or a sequence of numbers, not {c}.")
+                    raise invalid_shape_exception(csize, xsize)
         else:
             colors = None  # use cmap, norm after collection is created
         return c, colors, edgecolors