diff --git a/R/facet-grid-.R b/R/facet-grid-.R
index 2d7977bccc..b3d0ccea7b 100644
--- a/R/facet-grid-.R
+++ b/R/facet-grid-.R
@@ -338,6 +338,10 @@ FacetGrid <- ggproto("FacetGrid", Facet,
       cli::cli_abort("{.fn {snake_class(coord)}} doesn't support free scales.")
     }
 
+    # Fill missing parameters for backward compatibility
+    params$draw_axes   <- params$draw_axes   %||% list(x = FALSE, y = FALSE)
+    params$axis_labels <- params$axis_labels %||% list(x = TRUE,  y = TRUE)
+
     if (!params$axis_labels$x) {
       cols <- seq_len(nrow(layout))
       x_axis_order <- as.integer(layout$PANEL[order(layout$ROW, layout$COL)])
diff --git a/R/facet-wrap.R b/R/facet-wrap.R
index c0588bdf1f..9aa488179f 100644
--- a/R/facet-wrap.R
+++ b/R/facet-wrap.R
@@ -275,6 +275,10 @@ FacetWrap <- ggproto("FacetWrap", Facet,
     panels <- panels[panel_order]
     panel_pos <- convertInd(layout$ROW, layout$COL, nrow)
 
+    # Fill missing parameters for backward compatibility
+    params$draw_axes   <- params$draw_axes   %||% list(x = FALSE, y = FALSE)
+    params$axis_labels <- params$axis_labels %||% list(x = TRUE,  y = TRUE)
+
     x_axis_order <- if (params$axis_labels$x) layout$SCALE_X else seq(n)
     y_axis_order <- if (params$axis_labels$y) layout$SCALE_Y else seq(n)