diff --git a/py4DSTEM/process/strain/strain.py b/py4DSTEM/process/strain/strain.py
index d4636b84c..0b27d6562 100644
--- a/py4DSTEM/process/strain/strain.py
+++ b/py4DSTEM/process/strain/strain.py
@@ -1432,8 +1432,7 @@ def show_reference_directions(
             plt.show()
             return
         else:
-            axs = ((ax11, ax12), (ax21, ax22))
-            return fig, axs
+            return fig, (ax1,ax2)
 
     def show_lattice_vectors(
         ar,