diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/contour.py b/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
index 40a1d2b0f62d..dd12d490cb93 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
@@ -1161,7 +1161,7 @@ def _process_contour_level_args(self, args):
             inside = (self.levels > self.zmin) & (self.levels < self.zmax)
             levels_in = self.levels[inside]
             if len(levels_in) == 0:
-                self.levels = [self.zmin]
+                self.levels = [np.nan]
                 cbook._warn_external(
                     "No contour levels were found within the data range.")