diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axis.py b/lib/matplotlib/axis.py
index 5bfa002f9d96..b84a1688bf28 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axis.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axis.py
@@ -2029,6 +2029,9 @@ def set_ticks(self, ticks, labels=None, *, minor=False, **kwargs):
         other limits, you should set the limits explicitly after setting the
         ticks.
         """
+        if labels is None and kwargs:
+            raise ValueError('labels argument cannot be None when '
+                             'kwargs are passed')
         result = self._set_tick_locations(ticks, minor=minor)
         if labels is not None:
             self.set_ticklabels(labels, minor=minor, **kwargs)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index 00091b9f69b4..d03747fe587e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -5732,6 +5732,17 @@ def test_set_get_ticklabels():
     ax[1].set_yticklabels(ax[0].get_yticklabels())
 
 
+def test_set_ticks_kwargs_raise_error_without_labels():
+    """
+    When labels=None and any kwarg is passed, axis.set_ticks() raises a
+    ValueError.
+    """
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    ticks = [1, 2, 3]
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        ax.xaxis.set_ticks(ticks, alpha=0.5)
+
+
 @check_figures_equal(extensions=["png"])
 def test_set_ticks_with_labels(fig_test, fig_ref):
     """