diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_3.py b/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_3.py
index 2c8a4112236e..13fbf38b84f8 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_3.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_3.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 colors = np.empty(X.shape, dtype=str)
 for y in range(ylen):
     for x in range(xlen):
-        colors[x, y] = colortuple[(x + y) % len(colortuple)]
+        colors[y, x] = colortuple[(x + y) % len(colortuple)]
 
 # Plot the surface with face colors taken from the array we made.
 surf = ax.plot_surface(X, Y, Z, facecolors=colors, linewidth=0)