diff --git a/netpyne/support/scalebar.py b/netpyne/support/scalebar.py
index fe71441cd..6f6af8890 100644
--- a/netpyne/support/scalebar.py
+++ b/netpyne/support/scalebar.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def __init__(
                 bars.add_artist(Rectangle((0, 0), 0, sizey, ec=barcolor, lw=barwidth, fc="none"))
 
             if sizex and labelx:
-                self.xlabel = TextArea(labelx, minimumdescent=False)
+                self.xlabel = TextArea(labelx)
                 bars = VPacker(children=[bars, self.xlabel], align="center", pad=0, sep=sep)
             if sizey and labely:
                 self.ylabel = TextArea(labely)