diff --git a/python/gui/auto_generated/qgsscalerangewidget.sip.in b/python/gui/auto_generated/qgsscalerangewidget.sip.in
index 2f7616a06a9..ad3da5efb2f 100644
--- a/python/gui/auto_generated/qgsscalerangewidget.sip.in
+++ b/python/gui/auto_generated/qgsscalerangewidget.sip.in
@@ -68,6 +68,13 @@ The scale value indicates the scale denominator, e.g. 1000.0 for a 1:1000 map.
 .. seealso:: :py:func:`setMaximumScale`
 
 .. seealso:: :py:func:`setScaleRange`
+
+.. warning::
+
+   Calling setMinimumScale() places a restriction on the acceptable maximum scale for the
+   widget, and will alter any previously set maximum scale to pass this constraint. Always
+   call setMinimumScale() before setMaximumScale() when restoring a scale range in the widget, or
+   use the convenience method setScaleRange() instead.
 %End
 
     void setMaximumScale( double scale );
@@ -80,6 +87,13 @@ The scale value indicates the scale denominator, e.g. 1000.0 for a 1:1000 map.
 .. seealso:: :py:func:`setMinimumScale`
 
 .. seealso:: :py:func:`setScaleRange`
+
+.. warning::
+
+   Calling setMinimumScale() places a restriction on the acceptable maximum scale for the
+   widget, and will alter any previously set maximum scale to pass this constraint. Always
+   call setMinimumScale() before setMaximumScale() when restoring a scale range in the widget, or
+   use the convenience method setScaleRange() instead.
 %End
 
     void setScaleRange( double min, double max );
diff --git a/src/app/qgsrulebasedlabelingwidget.cpp b/src/app/qgsrulebasedlabelingwidget.cpp
index cc94d8b28c8..d35fd3154ac 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsrulebasedlabelingwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsrulebasedlabelingwidget.cpp
@@ -599,8 +599,8 @@ QgsLabelingRulePropsWidget::QgsLabelingRulePropsWidget( QgsRuleBasedLabeling::Ru
   {
     groupScale->setChecked( true );
     // caution: rule uses scale denom, scale widget uses true scales
-    mScaleRangeWidget->setMaximumScale( std::max( rule->maximumScale(), 0.0 ) );
-    mScaleRangeWidget->setMinimumScale( std::max( rule->minimumScale(), 0.0 ) );
+    mScaleRangeWidget->setScaleRange( std::max( rule->minimumScale(), 0.0 ),
+                                      std::max( rule->maximumScale(), 0.0 ) );
   }
   mScaleRangeWidget->setMapCanvas( mMapCanvas );
 
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsscalerangewidget.h b/src/gui/qgsscalerangewidget.h
index e6bd44e31a9..08b003d22b7 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsscalerangewidget.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgsscalerangewidget.h
@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsScaleRangeWidget : public QWidget
      * \see minimumScale()
      * \see setMaximumScale()
      * \see setScaleRange()
+     *
+     * \warning Calling setMinimumScale() places a restriction on the acceptable maximum scale for the
+     * widget, and will alter any previously set maximum scale to pass this constraint. Always
+     * call setMinimumScale() before setMaximumScale() when restoring a scale range in the widget, or
+     * use the convenience method setScaleRange() instead.
      */
     void setMinimumScale( double scale );
 
@@ -86,6 +91,11 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsScaleRangeWidget : public QWidget
      * \see maximumScale()
      * \see setMinimumScale()
      * \see setScaleRange()
+     *
+     * \warning Calling setMinimumScale() places a restriction on the acceptable maximum scale for the
+     * widget, and will alter any previously set maximum scale to pass this constraint. Always
+     * call setMinimumScale() before setMaximumScale() when restoring a scale range in the widget, or
+     * use the convenience method setScaleRange() instead.
      */
     void setMaximumScale( double scale );
 
diff --git a/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.cpp b/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.cpp
index 2e61278cfec..60572c84f04 100644
--- a/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.cpp
@@ -659,8 +659,8 @@ QgsRendererRulePropsWidget::QgsRendererRulePropsWidget( QgsRuleBasedRenderer::Ru
   if ( mRule->dependsOnScale() )
   {
     groupScale->setChecked( true );
-    mScaleRangeWidget->setMaximumScale( std::max( rule->maximumScale(), 0.0 ) );
-    mScaleRangeWidget->setMinimumScale( std::max( rule->minimumScale(), 0.0 ) );
+    mScaleRangeWidget->setScaleRange( std::max( rule->minimumScale(), 0.0 ),
+                                      std::max( rule->maximumScale(), 0.0 ) );
   }
   mScaleRangeWidget->setMapCanvas( mContext.mapCanvas() );