diff --git a/pygmt/src/basemap.py b/pygmt/src/basemap.py
index 32f12782da0..a334ce4163a 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/basemap.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/basemap.py
@@ -3,13 +3,7 @@
 """
 
 from pygmt.clib import Session
-from pygmt.helpers import (
-    args_in_kwargs,
-    build_arg_string,
-    fmt_docstring,
-    kwargs_to_strings,
-    use_alias,
-)
+from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_string, fmt_docstring, kwargs_to_strings, use_alias
 
 
 @fmt_docstring
@@ -39,6 +33,9 @@ def basemap(self, **kwargs):
     tick-mark intervals for boundary annotation, ticking, and [optionally]
     gridlines. A simple map scale or directional rose may also be plotted.
 
+    At least one of the parameters ``frame``, ``map_scale``, ``rose``, or
+    ``compass`` must be specified if not in subplot mode.
+
     Full option list at :gmt-docs:`basemap.html`
 
     {aliases}
@@ -86,7 +83,5 @@ def basemap(self, **kwargs):
     {transparency}
     """
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)  # pylint: disable=protected-access
-    if not args_in_kwargs(args=["B", "L", "Td", "Tm", "c"], kwargs=kwargs):
-        kwargs["B"] = True  # Plotting frames if required arguments not given
     with Session() as lib:
         lib.call_module(module="basemap", args=build_arg_string(kwargs))
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_basemap_required_args.png.dvc b/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_basemap_required_args.png.dvc
deleted file mode 100644
index 1361a4b0138..00000000000
--- a/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_basemap_required_args.png.dvc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-outs:
-- md5: 36f8200a27d23e19951c2a3823a28faa
-  size: 6163
-  path: test_basemap_required_args.png
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_basemap_subplot.png.dvc b/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_basemap_subplot.png.dvc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7456d294144
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_basemap_subplot.png.dvc
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+outs:
+- md5: 1b4ae53658eec125ebf8ab4eac78d729
+  size: 8733
+  path: test_basemap_subplot.png
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_basemap.py b/pygmt/tests/test_basemap.py
index 2d73f08986d..db646a04d6f 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_basemap.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_basemap.py
@@ -5,16 +5,6 @@
 from pygmt import Figure
 
 
-@pytest.mark.mpl_image_compare
-def test_basemap_required_args():
-    """
-    Automatically set `frame=True` when required arguments are not given.
-    """
-    fig = Figure()
-    fig.basemap(region=[10, 70, -3, 8], projection="X8c/6c")
-    return fig
-
-
 @pytest.mark.mpl_image_compare
 def test_basemap():
     """
@@ -136,3 +126,18 @@ def test_basemap_map_scale():
         map_scale="jMC+c26.5+w10k+f+l",
     )
     return fig
+
+
+@pytest.mark.mpl_image_compare
+def test_basemap_subplot():
+    """
+    Test in subplot mode for the case that the frame parameter of basemap is
+    not specified.
+    """
+    fig = Figure()
+    with fig.subplot(nrows=1, ncols=2, figsize=("10c", "5c")):
+        with fig.set_panel(panel=0):
+            fig.basemap(region=[0, 10, 0, 10], projection="X?")
+        with fig.set_panel(panel=1):
+            fig.basemap(region=[0, 10, 0, 10], projection="X?")
+    return fig