diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_widgets.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_widgets.py
index 92b87a96b3d2..5706df46e328 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_widgets.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_widgets.py
@@ -1297,12 +1297,12 @@ def handle_positions(slider):
         else:
             return [h.get_xdata()[0] for h in slider._handles]
 
-    slider.set_val((0.2, 0.6))
-    assert_allclose(slider.val, (0.2, 0.6))
-    assert_allclose(handle_positions(slider), (0.2, 0.6))
+    slider.set_val((0.4, 0.6))
+    assert_allclose(slider.val, (0.4, 0.6))
+    assert_allclose(handle_positions(slider), (0.4, 0.6))
 
     box = slider.poly.get_extents().transformed(ax.transAxes.inverted())
-    assert_allclose(box.get_points().flatten()[idx], [0.2, .25, 0.6, .75])
+    assert_allclose(box.get_points().flatten()[idx], [0.4, .25, 0.6, .75])
 
     slider.set_val((0.2, 0.1))
     assert_allclose(slider.val, (0.1, 0.2))
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py b/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
index eb4b97da279f..c25644dbe6b8 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ def __init__(
                          valmin, valmax, valfmt, dragging, valstep)
 
         # Set a value to allow _value_in_bounds() to work.
-        self.val = [valmin, valmax]
+        self.val = (valmin, valmax)
         if valinit is None:
             # Place at the 25th and 75th percentiles
             extent = valmax - valmin
@@ -947,9 +947,9 @@ def set_val(self, val):
         """
         val = np.sort(val)
         _api.check_shape((2,), val=val)
-        vmin, vmax = val
-        vmin = self._min_in_bounds(vmin)
-        vmax = self._max_in_bounds(vmax)
+        # Reset value to allow _value_in_bounds() to work.
+        self.val = (self.valmin, self.valmax)
+        vmin, vmax = self._value_in_bounds(val)
         self._update_selection_poly(vmin, vmax)
         if self.orientation == "vertical":
             self._handles[0].set_ydata([vmin])