diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index d7e53c40bb7d..ff136f67a270 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ def test_formatter_large_small():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots(1)
     x = [0.500000001, 0.500000002]
     y = [1e64, 1.1e64]
+    ax.ticklabel_format(useOffset=True)
     ax.plot(x, y)
 
 @image_comparison(baseline_images=["twin_axis_locaters_formatters"])
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_subplots.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_subplots.py
index 99273a8446b1..f3a40bdbd295 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_subplots.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_subplots.py
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ def test_subplots_offsettext():
     x = numpy.arange(0,1e10,1e9)
     y = numpy.arange(0,100,10)+1e4
     fig,axes = plt.subplots(2,2, sharex = 'col', sharey = 'all')
+    for ax in axes:
+            ax.ticklabel_format(useOffset=True)
     axes[0,0].plot(x,x)
     axes[1,0].plot(x,x)
     axes[0,1].plot(y,x)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py b/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
index 240d02eb0a82..ed55ac219cb9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ class ScalarFormatter(Formatter):
 
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, useOffset=True, useMathText=None, useLocale=None):
+    def __init__(self, useOffset=False, useMathText=None, useLocale=None):
         # useOffset allows plotting small data ranges with large offsets: for
         # example: [1+1e-9,1+2e-9,1+3e-9] useMathText will render the offset
         # and scientific notation in mathtext