diff --git a/piker/ui/_axes.py b/piker/ui/_axes.py
index a4ae601b..1dac898c 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_axes.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_axes.py
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ Chart axes graphics and behavior.
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 from functools import lru_cache
-from typing import Callable
 from math import floor
+import platform
+from typing import Callable
 
 import polars as pl
 import pyqtgraph as pg
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ from ._style import DpiAwareFont, hcolor, _font
 from ._interaction import ChartView
 from ._dataviz import Viz
 
+_friggin_macos: bool = platform.system() == 'Darwin'
 _axis_pen = pg.mkPen(hcolor('bracket'))
 
 
@@ -172,6 +174,7 @@ class Axis(pg.AxisItem):
         text_offset = None
         if self.orientation in ('bottom',):
             text_offset = floor(0.25 * font_size)
+
         elif self.orientation in ('left', 'right'):
             text_offset = floor(font_size / 2)
 
@@ -293,15 +296,22 @@ class PriceAxis(Axis):
     ) -> None:
         self._min_tick = size
 
-    def size_to_values(self) -> None:
-        # Call PyQtGraph's internal width update mechanism
-        # This respects autoExpandTextSpace and updates min/max constraints
-        self._updateWidth()
-        # tell Qt our preferred size changed so layout recalculates
-        self.updateGeometry()
-        # force parent plot item to recalculate its layout
-        if self.pi and hasattr(self.pi, 'updateGeometry'):
-            self.pi.updateGeometry()
+    if _friggin_macos:
+        def size_to_values(self) -> None:
+            # Call PyQtGraph's internal width update mechanism
+            # This respects autoExpandTextSpace and updates min/max constraints
+            self._updateWidth()
+            # tell Qt our preferred size changed so layout recalculates
+            self.updateGeometry()
+            # force parent plot item to recalculate its layout
+            if self.pi and hasattr(self.pi, 'updateGeometry'):
+                self.pi.updateGeometry()
+
+    else:
+        def size_to_values(self) -> None:
+            # XXX, old code!
+            self.setWidth(self.typical_br.width())
+
 
     # XXX: drop for now since it just eats up h space
 
@@ -344,15 +354,21 @@ class DynamicDateAxis(Axis):
         1: '%H:%M:%S',
     }
 
-    def size_to_values(self) -> None:
-        # Call PyQtGraph's internal height update mechanism
-        # This respects autoExpandTextSpace and updates min/max constraints
-        self._updateHeight()
-        # tell Qt our preferred size changed so layout recalculates
-        self.updateGeometry()
-        # force parent plot item to recalculate its layout
-        if self.pi and hasattr(self.pi, 'updateGeometry'):
-            self.pi.updateGeometry()
+    if _friggin_macos:
+        def size_to_values(self) -> None:
+            # Call PyQtGraph's internal height update mechanism
+            # This respects autoExpandTextSpace and updates min/max constraints
+            self._updateHeight()
+            # tell Qt our preferred size changed so layout recalculates
+            self.updateGeometry()
+            # force parent plot item to recalculate its layout
+            if self.pi and hasattr(self.pi, 'updateGeometry'):
+                self.pi.updateGeometry()
+
+    else:
+        def size_to_values(self) -> None:
+            # XXX, old code!
+            self.setHeight(self.typical_br.height() + 1)
 
     def _indexes_to_timestrs(
         self,