diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index c66c10196d5a..adc2922ab4df 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -2578,7 +2578,11 @@ def _get_uniform_gridstate(ticks):
             ax.set_yscale('linear')
             ax.figure.canvas.draw_idle()
         elif scale == 'linear':
-            ax.set_yscale('log')
+            try:
+                ax.set_yscale('log')
+            except ValueError as exc:
+                warnings.warn(str(exc))
+                ax.set_yscale('linear')
             ax.figure.canvas.draw_idle()
     # toggle scaling of x-axes between 'log and 'linear' (default key 'k')
     elif event.key in toggle_xscale_keys:
@@ -2587,7 +2591,11 @@ def _get_uniform_gridstate(ticks):
             ax.set_xscale('linear')
             ax.figure.canvas.draw_idle()
         elif scalex == 'linear':
-            ax.set_xscale('log')
+            try:
+                ax.set_xscale('log')
+            except ValueError:
+                warnings.warn(str(exc))
+                ax.set_xscale('linear')
             ax.figure.canvas.draw_idle()
 
     elif (event.key.isdigit() and event.key != '0') or event.key in all_keys: