diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tight_layout.py b/lib/matplotlib/tight_layout.py
index 18a19370a092..3b2d6bb33030 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tight_layout.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tight_layout.py
@@ -169,19 +169,34 @@ def auto_adjust_subplotpars(fig, renderer,
     if not margin_left:
         margin_left = max([sum(s) for s in hspaces[::cols + 1]] + [0])
         margin_left += pad_inches / fig_width_inch
+        # bugfix for bug-#5456
+        # simple check for the error
+        if margin_left > 0.5:
+            margin_left = 0.05
 
     if not margin_right:
         margin_right = max([sum(s) for s in hspaces[cols::cols + 1]] + [0])
         margin_right += pad_inches / fig_width_inch
+        # bugfix for bug-#5456
+        # simple check for the error
+        if margin_right > 0.5:
+            margin_right = 0.05
 
     if not margin_top:
         margin_top = max([sum(s) for s in vspaces[:cols]] + [0])
         margin_top += pad_inches / fig_height_inch
+         # bugfix for bug-#5456
+        if margin_top > 0.5:
+            margin_top = 0.05
 
     if not margin_bottom:
         margin_bottom = max([sum(s) for s in vspaces[-cols:]] + [0])
         margin_bottom += pad_inches / fig_height_inch
 
+        # bugfix for bug-#5456
+        if margin_bottom > 0.5:
+            margin_bottom = 0.05
+
     kwargs = dict(left=margin_left,
                   right=1 - margin_right,
                   bottom=margin_bottom,