diff --git a/R/coord-radial.R b/R/coord-radial.R
index 8df50bcb1e..3cef9c2b5b 100644
--- a/R/coord-radial.R
+++ b/R/coord-radial.R
@@ -102,6 +102,16 @@ coord_radial <- function(theta = "x",
   arc <- switch(reverse, thetar = , theta = rev(arc), arc)
 
   r.axis.inside <- r.axis.inside %||% !(abs(arc[2] - arc[1]) >= 1.999 * pi)
+  if (isFALSE(r.axis.inside)) {
+    place <- in_arc(c(0, 0.5, 1, 1.5) * pi, arc)
+    if (!any(place)) {
+      cli::cli_warn(c(
+        "No appropriate placement found for outside {.field r.axis}.",
+        i = "Will use {.code r.axis.inside = TRUE} instead"
+      ))
+      r.axis.inside <- TRUE
+    }
+  }
 
   inner.radius <- c(inner.radius, 1) * 0.4
   inner.radius <- switch(reverse, thetar = , r = rev, identity)(inner.radius)
@@ -453,25 +463,14 @@ CoordRadial <- ggproto("CoordRadial", Coord,
 
   setup_params = function(self, data) {
     params <- ggproto_parent(Coord, self)$setup_params(data)
-    if (!isFALSE(self$r_axis_inside)) {
-      return(params)
-    }
-
-    place <- in_arc(c(0, 0.5, 1, 1.5) * pi, self$arc)
-    if (!any(place)) {
-      cli::cli_warn(c(
-        "No appropriate placement found for {.arg r_axis_inside}.",
-        i = "Axis will be placed at panel edge."
-      ))
-      params$r_axis_inside <- TRUE
-      return(params)
+    if (isFALSE(self$r_axis_inside)) {
+      place <- in_arc(c(0, 0.5, 1, 1.5) * pi, self$arc)
+      params$r_axis   <- if (any(place[c(1, 3)])) "left" else "bottom"
+      params$fake_arc <- switch(
+        which(place[c(1, 3, 2, 4)])[1],
+        c(0, 2), c(1, 3), c(0.5, 2.5), c(1.5, 3.5)
+      ) * pi
     }
-
-    params$r_axis   <- if (any(place[c(1, 3)])) "left" else "bottom"
-    params$fake_arc <- switch(
-      which(place[c(1, 3, 2, 4)])[1],
-      c(0, 2), c(1, 3), c(0.5, 2.5), c(1.5, 3.5)
-    ) * pi
     params
   }
 )
diff --git a/man/coord_polar.Rd b/man/coord_polar.Rd
index 23bbcb97ea..3bc579bcbc 100644
--- a/man/coord_polar.Rd
+++ b/man/coord_polar.Rd
@@ -138,14 +138,13 @@ ggplot(mtcars, aes(disp, mpg)) +
 
 # Similar with coord_cartesian(), you can set limits.
 ggplot(mtcars, aes(disp, mpg)) +
-    geom_point() +
-    coord_radial(
-        start = -0.4 * pi,
-        end = 0.4 * pi, inner.radius = 0.3,
-        thetalim = c(200, 300),
-        rlim = c(15, 30),
-        clip = "on"
-    )
+  geom_point() +
+  coord_radial(
+    start = -0.4 * pi,
+    end = 0.4 * pi, inner.radius = 0.3,
+    thetalim = c(200, 300),
+    rlim = c(15, 30),
+  )
 }
 \seealso{
 The \href{https://ggplot2-book.org/coord#polar-coordinates-with-coord_polar}{polar coordinates section} of the online ggplot2 book.
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/coord-polar.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/coord-polar.md
index 62138ccf99..fcbe964bea 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/coord-polar.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/coord-polar.md
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
 
 ---
 
-    No appropriate placement found for `r_axis_inside`.
-    i Axis will be placed at panel edge.
+    No appropriate placement found for outside r.axis.
+    i Will use `r.axis.inside = TRUE` instead
 
 # when both x and y are AsIs, they are not transformed