diff --git a/R/stat-boxplot.R b/R/stat-boxplot.R
index 41819e5e1e..ff51b8354d 100644
--- a/R/stat-boxplot.R
+++ b/R/stat-boxplot.R
@@ -23,7 +23,13 @@ StatBoxplot <- ggproto("StatBoxplot", Stat,
   setup_params = function(self, data, params) {
     params$flipped_aes <- has_flipped_aes(data, params, main_is_orthogonal = TRUE,
                                           group_has_equal = TRUE,
-                                          main_is_optional = TRUE)
+                                          main_is_optional = TRUE,
+                                        default = NA)
+    
+    if (is.na(params$flipped_aes)) {
+      cli::cli_warn("Orientation is not uniquely specified when both the x and y aesthetics are continuous. Picking default orientation 'x'.")
+      params$flipped_aes <- FALSE
+    }
     data <- flip_data(data, params$flipped_aes)
 
     has_x <- !(is.null(data$x) && is.null(params$x))
diff --git a/R/utilities.R b/R/utilities.R
index 348430fd12..ca06985f26 100644
--- a/R/utilities.R
+++ b/R/utilities.R
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ has_flipped_aes <- function(data, params = list(), main_is_orthogonal = NA,
     }
   }
 
-  isTRUE(default)
+  as.logical(default)[1]
 }
 #' @rdname bidirection
 #' @export
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/geom-boxplot.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/geom-boxplot.md
index 10e75bb438..8af5e6140b 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/geom-boxplot.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/geom-boxplot.md
@@ -1,17 +1,35 @@
 # geom_boxplot for continuous x gives warning if more than one x (#992)
 
-    Continuous x aesthetic
-    i did you forget `aes(group = ...)`?
+    Code
+      p <- bplot(aes(x, y))
+    Condition
+      Warning:
+      Orientation is not uniquely specified when both the x and y aesthetics are continuous. Picking default orientation 'x'.
+      Warning:
+      Continuous x aesthetic
+      i did you forget `aes(group = ...)`?
 
 ---
 
-    Continuous x aesthetic
-    i did you forget `aes(group = ...)`?
+    Code
+      p <- bplot(aes(x, y), facet_wrap(~x))
+    Condition
+      Warning:
+      Orientation is not uniquely specified when both the x and y aesthetics are continuous. Picking default orientation 'x'.
+      Warning:
+      Continuous x aesthetic
+      i did you forget `aes(group = ...)`?
 
 ---
 
-    Continuous x aesthetic
-    i did you forget `aes(group = ...)`?
+    Code
+      p <- bplot(aes(Sys.Date() + x, y))
+    Condition
+      Warning:
+      Orientation is not uniquely specified when both the x and y aesthetics are continuous. Picking default orientation 'x'.
+      Warning:
+      Continuous x aesthetic
+      i did you forget `aes(group = ...)`?
 
 # boxplots with a group size >1 error
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-geom-boxplot.R b/tests/testthat/test-geom-boxplot.R
index 9d977501ff..82c45c3fb7 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-geom-boxplot.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-geom-boxplot.R
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ test_that("geom_boxplot for continuous x gives warning if more than one x (#992)
     ggplot_build(ggplot(dat, aes) + geom_boxplot(aes) + extra)
   }
 
-  expect_snapshot_warning(bplot(aes(x, y)))
-  expect_snapshot_warning(bplot(aes(x, y), facet_wrap(~x)))
-  expect_snapshot_warning(bplot(aes(Sys.Date() + x, y)))
+  expect_snapshot(p <- bplot(aes(x, y)))
+  expect_snapshot(p <- bplot(aes(x, y), facet_wrap(~x)))
+  expect_snapshot(p <- bplot(aes(Sys.Date() + x, y)))
 
   expect_silent(bplot(aes(x, group = x, y)))
   expect_silent(bplot(aes(1, y)))