diff --git a/ctapipe/visualization/mpl_array.py b/ctapipe/visualization/mpl_array.py
index 1c3b3e2c456..95a83182192 100644
--- a/ctapipe/visualization/mpl_array.py
+++ b/ctapipe/visualization/mpl_array.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def __init__(
                     linewidth=0,
                 )
             )
-        plt.legend(handles=legend_elements)
+        self.axes.legend(handles=legend_elements)
 
         self.add_radial_grid()