diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/xy_visualization/axis_settings_popover.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/xy_visualization/axis_settings_popover.test.tsx
index 11dc6efad01e0..7609c534711d0 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/xy_visualization/axis_settings_popover.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/xy_visualization/axis_settings_popover.test.tsx
@@ -99,6 +99,13 @@ describe('Axes Settings', () => {
     expect(props.setOrientation).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it('should disable the orientation group if the tickLabels are set to not visible', () => {
+    const component = shallow(<AxisSettingsPopover {...props} areTickLabelsVisible={false} />);
+    expect(
+      component.find('[data-test-subj="lnsXY_axisOrientation_groups"]').prop('isDisabled')
+    ).toEqual(true);
+  });
+
   it('hides the endzone visibility flag if no setter is passed in', () => {
     const component = shallow(<AxisSettingsPopover {...props} />);
     expect(component.find('[data-test-subj="lnsshowEndzones"]').length).toBe(0);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/xy_visualization/axis_settings_popover.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/xy_visualization/axis_settings_popover.tsx
index a2d65e92ebcdc..3c1cecc3c5a44 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/xy_visualization/axis_settings_popover.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lens/public/xy_visualization/axis_settings_popover.tsx
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ export const AxisSettingsPopover: React.FunctionComponent<AxisSettingsPopoverPro
           })}
           data-test-subj="lnsXY_axisOrientation_groups"
           name="axisOrientation"
+          isDisabled={!areTickLabelsVisible}
           buttonSize="compressed"
           options={axisOrientationOptions}
           idSelected={axisOrientationOptions.find(({ value }) => value === orientation)!.id}