diff --git a/trains/utilities/plotlympl/mplexporter/renderers/base.py b/trains/utilities/plotlympl/mplexporter/renderers/base.py
index 6bf5acb4..e955fdfe 100644
--- a/trains/utilities/plotlympl/mplexporter/renderers/base.py
+++ b/trains/utilities/plotlympl/mplexporter/renderers/base.py
@@ -18,11 +18,19 @@ class Renderer(object):
 
     @staticmethod
     def ax_has_xgrid(ax):
-        return bool(ax and ax.xaxis._gridOnMajor and ax.yaxis.get_gridlines())
+        if not ax:
+            return False
+        _gridOnMajor = ax.xaxis._gridOnMajor if hasattr(ax.xaxis, '_gridOnMajor') \
+            else ax.xaxis._major_tick_kw['gridOn']
+        return bool(ax and _gridOnMajor and ax.yaxis.get_gridlines())
 
     @staticmethod
     def ax_has_ygrid(ax):
-        return bool(ax and ax.yaxis._gridOnMajor and ax.yaxis.get_gridlines())
+        if not ax:
+            return False
+        _gridOnMajor = ax.yaxis._gridOnMajor if hasattr(ax.yaxis, '_gridOnMajor') \
+            else ax.yaxis._major_tick_kw['gridOn']
+        return bool(ax and _gridOnMajor and ax.yaxis.get_gridlines())
 
     @property
     def current_ax_zoomable(self):
diff --git a/trains/utilities/plotlympl/mplexporter/utils.py b/trains/utilities/plotlympl/mplexporter/utils.py
index 4059a6b6..261808fa 100644
--- a/trains/utilities/plotlympl/mplexporter/utils.py
+++ b/trains/utilities/plotlympl/mplexporter/utils.py
@@ -243,7 +243,8 @@ def get_axis_properties(axis):
 
 def get_grid_style(axis):
     gridlines = axis.get_gridlines()
-    if axis._gridOnMajor and len(gridlines) > 0:
+    _gridOnMajor = axis._gridOnMajor if hasattr(axis, '_gridOnMajor') else axis._major_tick_kw['gridOn']
+    if _gridOnMajor and len(gridlines) > 0:
         color = export_color(gridlines[0].get_color())
         alpha = gridlines[0].get_alpha()
         dasharray = get_dasharray(gridlines[0])