diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.sortable.js b/ui/jquery.ui.sortable.js
index a6903b263..06df7971f 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.sortable.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.sortable.js
@@ -467,8 +467,8 @@ $.widget("ui.sortable", $.ui.mouse, {
 
 	_intersectsWithPointer: function(item) {
 
-		var isOverElementHeight = $.ui.isOverAxis(this.positionAbs.top + this.offset.click.top, item.top, item.height),
-			isOverElementWidth = $.ui.isOverAxis(this.positionAbs.left + this.offset.click.left, item.left, item.width),
+		var isOverElementHeight = (this.options.axis === 'x') || $.ui.isOverAxis(this.positionAbs.top + this.offset.click.top, item.top, item.height),
+			isOverElementWidth = (this.options.axis === 'y') || $.ui.isOverAxis(this.positionAbs.left + this.offset.click.left, item.left, item.width),
 			isOverElement = isOverElementHeight && isOverElementWidth,
 			verticalDirection = this._getDragVerticalDirection(),
 			horizontalDirection = this._getDragHorizontalDirection();