diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index 669f72030f7a..72a6d50474cf 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -1282,7 +1282,7 @@ def set_aspect(self, aspect, adjustable=None, anchor=None):
           etc.
           =====   =====================
         """
-        if aspect in ('equal', 'auto'):
+        if cbook.is_string_like(aspect) and aspect in ('equal', 'auto'):
             self._aspect = aspect
         else:
             self._aspect = float(aspect)  # raise ValueError if necessary
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/lines.py b/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
index 5e9435a38ac2..1310c080b085 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/lines.py
@@ -840,11 +840,13 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
                 marker_path = marker.get_path()
                 marker_trans = marker.get_transform()
                 w = renderer.points_to_pixels(self._markersize)
-                if marker.get_marker() != ',':
+
+                if (is_string_like(marker.get_marker()) and
+                        marker.get_marker() == ','):
+                    gc.set_linewidth(0)
+                else:
                     # Don't scale for pixels, and don't stroke them
                     marker_trans = marker_trans.scale(w)
-                else:
-                    gc.set_linewidth(0)
 
                 renderer.draw_markers(gc, marker_path, marker_trans,
                                       subsampled, affine.frozen(),