diff --git a/src/aeolus/plot/cart.py b/src/aeolus/plot/cart.py
index 73fbeda1..8223271c 100644
--- a/src/aeolus/plot/cart.py
+++ b/src/aeolus/plot/cart.py
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ def __init__(self, fig, rect, nrows_ncols, projection, **axesgrid_kw):
         the subplot position code (e.g., "121").
         """
         axesgrid_kw["axes_class"] = (GeoAxes, {"map_projection": projection})
-        axesgrid_kw["label_mode"] = ""  # note the empty label_mode
+        axesgrid_kw["label_mode"] = (
+            "L"  # other systems may require an empty label_mode
+        )
         super().__init__(fig, rect, nrows_ncols, **axesgrid_kw)