diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
index baa86f22cb87..6571a4263d81 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
@@ -1491,9 +1491,8 @@ def add_collection(self, collection, autolim=True):
 
         if collection.get_clip_path() is None:
             collection.set_clip_path(self.patch)
-        if autolim:
-            if collection._paths and len(collection._paths):
-                self.update_datalim(collection.get_datalim(self.transData))
+        if autolim and collection._paths and len(collection._offsets):
+            self.update_datalim(collection.get_datalim(self.transData))
 
         collection._remove_method = lambda h: self.collections.remove(h)
         return collection
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index 1b7b15b31898..34639dfc28d3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -54,6 +54,21 @@ def test_formatter_ticker():
     ax.set_xlabel( "x-label 005" )
     ax.autoscale_view()
 
+@cleanup
+def test_add_collection():
+    # Test if data limits are unchanged by adding an empty collection.
+    # Github issue #1490, pull #1497. 
+    fig = matplotlib.figure.Figure()
+    fig2 = matplotlib.figure.Figure()
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+    ax2 = fig2.add_subplot(111)
+    coll = ax2.scatter([0, 1], [0, 1])
+    ax.add_collection(coll)
+    bounds = ax.dataLim.bounds
+    coll = ax2.scatter([], [])
+    ax.add_collection(coll)
+    assert ax.dataLim.bounds == bounds
+
 @image_comparison(baseline_images=["formatter_large_small"])
 def test_formatter_large_small():
     # github issue #617, pull #619