diff --git a/src/ol/control/ScaleLine.js b/src/ol/control/ScaleLine.js
index 4ea28331ec..4172b8c07d 100644
--- a/src/ol/control/ScaleLine.js
+++ b/src/ol/control/ScaleLine.js
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ ScaleLine.prototype.updateElement_ = function() {
     Units.METERS;
   let pointResolution =
       getPointResolution(projection, viewState.resolution, center, pointResolutionUnits);
-  if (units != ScaleLineUnits.DEGREES) {
+  if (projection.getUnits() != Units.DEGREES && units == ScaleLineUnits.METRIC) {
     pointResolution *= projection.getMetersPerUnit();
   }
 
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/control/scaleline.test.js b/test/spec/ol/control/scaleline.test.js
index 19aae64c72..33fb7e5ce9 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/control/scaleline.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/control/scaleline.test.js
@@ -298,6 +298,21 @@ describe('ol.control.ScaleLine', function() {
       map.renderSync();
       expect(ctrl.element_.innerText).to.be('100 mm');
     });
+
+    it('Metric display works with Geographic (EPSG:4326) projection', function() {
+      var ctrl = new ScaleLine();
+      ctrl.setMap(map);
+      map.setView(new View({
+        center: [0, 0],
+        zoom: 0, /* min zoom */
+        projection: 'EPSG:4326'
+      }));
+      map.renderSync();
+      expect(ctrl.element_.innerText).to.be('10000 km');
+      map.getView().setZoom(28); /* max zoom */
+      map.renderSync();
+      expect(ctrl.element_.innerText).to.be('50 mm');
+    });
   });
 
   describe('latitude may affect scale line in EPSG:4326', function() {