diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axis.py b/lib/matplotlib/axis.py
index dba6fd15f686..71312d2da4a2 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axis.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axis.py
@@ -2140,6 +2140,7 @@ def set_ticks_position(self, position):
         elif position == 'default':
             self.set_tick_params(which='both', right=True, labelright=False,
                                  left=True, labelleft=True)
+            self.set_offset_position('left')                    
         else:
             raise ValueError("invalid position: %s" % position)
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index 22607650182f..387f41cfef09 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -3557,6 +3557,24 @@ def test_move_offsetlabel():
     ax.plot(data)
     ax.yaxis.tick_right()
     assert_equal((1, 0.5), ax.yaxis.offsetText.get_position())
+    
+@cleanup
+def test_move_offsetlabel_default():
+    data = np.random.random(10) * 1e-22
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    ax.plot(data)
+    ax.yaxis.tick_right()
+    ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('default')
+    assert_equal((0, 0.5), ax.yaxis.offsetText.get_position())
+    
+@cleanup
+def test_move_offsetlabel_left():
+    data = np.random.random(10) * 1e-22
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    ax.plot(data)
+    ax.yaxis.tick_right()
+    ax.yaxis.tick_left()
+    assert_equal((0, 0.5), ax.yaxis.offsetText.get_position())
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     import nose