diff --git a/platform/ios/src/MGLScaleBar.mm b/platform/ios/src/MGLScaleBar.mm
index cd88c1e08..410aa7d57 100644
--- a/platform/ios/src/MGLScaleBar.mm
+++ b/platform/ios/src/MGLScaleBar.mm
@@ -188,9 +188,9 @@ static const CGFloat MGLFeetPerMeter = 3.28084;
 
 - (MGLRow)preferredRow {
     CLLocationDistance maximumDistance = [self maximumWidth] * [self unitsPerPoint];
-    MGLRow row;
     
     BOOL useMetric = [self usesMetricSystem];
+    MGLRow row = useMetric ? MGLMetricTable[0] : MGLImperialTable[0];
     NSUInteger count = useMetric
     ? sizeof(MGLMetricTable) / sizeof(MGLMetricTable[0])
     : sizeof(MGLImperialTable) / sizeof(MGLImperialTable[0]);