diff --git a/src/backends/pgfplotsx.jl b/src/backends/pgfplotsx.jl
index 5cf00d33..4d31970e 100644
--- a/src/backends/pgfplotsx.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pgfplotsx.jl
@@ -872,10 +872,11 @@ function pgfx_axis!(opt::PGFPlotsX.Options, sp::Subplot, letter)
         "scaled $(letter) ticks" => "false",
         string(letter, :label) => axis[:guide],
     )
+    tick_color = plot_color(axis[:foreground_color_axis])
     push!(opt,
         "$(letter) tick style" => PGFPlotsX.Options(
-            "color" => plot_color(axis[:foreground_color_axis]),
-            "opacity" => alpha(axis[:foreground_color_axis]),
+            "color" => color(tick_color),
+            "opacity" => alpha(tick_color),
         ),
     )