diff --git a/glue_jupyter/bqplot/common/viewer.py b/glue_jupyter/bqplot/common/viewer.py
index 836489d0..1af906df 100644
--- a/glue_jupyter/bqplot/common/viewer.py
+++ b/glue_jupyter/bqplot/common/viewer.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 from ...view import IPyWidgetView
 from ...link import on_change
-from ...utils import float_or_none, debounced, get_ioloop
+from ...utils import debounced, get_ioloop
 from .tools import ROIClickAndDrag
 
 __all__ = ['BqplotBaseView']
@@ -116,13 +116,13 @@ def _update_bqplot_limits(self, *args):
 
         if self.state.x_min is not None and self.state.x_max is not None:
             with self.scale_x.hold_sync():
-                self.scale_x.min = float_or_none(self.state.x_min)
-                self.scale_x.max = float_or_none(self.state.x_max)
+                self.scale_x.min = float(self.state.x_min)
+                self.scale_x.max = float(self.state.x_max)
 
         if self.state.y_min is not None and self.state.y_max is not None:
             with self.scale_y.hold_sync():
-                self.scale_y.min = float_or_none(self.state.y_min)
-                self.scale_y.max = float_or_none(self.state.y_max)
+                self.scale_y.min = float(self.state.y_min)
+                self.scale_y.max = float(self.state.y_max)
 
         self._last_limits = (self.state.x_min, self.state.x_max,
                              self.state.y_min, self.state.y_max)