diff --git a/plotly_express/_core.py b/plotly_express/_core.py
index edddf2a..2803f8b 100644
--- a/plotly_express/_core.py
+++ b/plotly_express/_core.py
@@ -395,7 +395,8 @@ def configure_cartesian_axes(args, fig, axes, orders):
                         "showarrow": False,
                         "xanchor": "center",
                         "yanchor": "middle",
-                        "text": args[direction] + "=" + str(key),
+                        "text": args['labels'].get(args[direction],
+                                                   args[direction]) + "=" + str(key),
                         "x": 1.01 if row else step * (i + (0.5 - gap / 2)),
                         "y": step * (i + (0.5 - gap / 2)) if row else 1.02,
                         "textangle": 90 if row else 0,