diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index 192121134058..f2d6c5f251a8 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -3397,6 +3397,13 @@ def get_xticklabels(self, minor=False, which=None):
         -------
         ret : list
            List of `~matplotlib.text.Text` instances.
+
+        Notes
+        -----
+        The tick label strings are not populated until a ``draw``
+        method has been called.
+
+        See also: `~.pyplot.draw` and `~.FigureCanvasBase.draw`.
         """
         return self.xaxis.get_ticklabels(minor=minor, which=which)
 
@@ -3783,6 +3790,13 @@ def get_yticklabels(self, minor=False, which=None):
         -------
         ret : list
            List of `~matplotlib.text.Text` instances.
+
+        Notes
+        -----
+        The tick label strings are not populated until a ``draw``
+        method has been called.
+
+        See also: `~.pyplot.draw` and `~.FigureCanvasBase.draw`.
         """
         return self.yaxis.get_ticklabels(minor=minor, which=which)