diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/pathpatch3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/pathpatch3d.py
index 5976adf728a5..962e54d8dce6 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/pathpatch3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/pathpatch3d.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def text3d(ax, xyz, s, zdir="z", size=None, angle=0, usetex=False, **kwargs):
     x, y, z = xyz
     if zdir == "y":
         xy1, z1 = (x, z), y
-    elif zdir == "y":
+    elif zdir == "x":
         xy1, z1 = (y, z), x
     else:
         xy1, z1 = (x, y), z