diff --git a/docs/nvbench_compare.md b/docs/nvbench_compare.md
index b83a198..6e7500c 100644
--- a/docs/nvbench_compare.md
+++ b/docs/nvbench_compare.md
@@ -150,7 +150,9 @@ nvbench-compare -b base -a "Elements{io}[pow2]=20" reference.json compare.json
 ```
 
 `-a` / `--axis` applies to the most recent `-b` / `--benchmark`, or to all
-benchmarks if it appears before any benchmark filter.
+benchmarks if it appears before any benchmark filter. If any benchmark filters
+are provided, only those benchmarks are compared; leading axis filters are
+replayed onto each selected benchmark, matching NVBench CLI behavior.
 
 ## Timing Data Used
 
diff --git a/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py b/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
index cff504b..0828766 100644
--- a/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
+++ b/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
@@ -2285,8 +2285,6 @@ def axis_filter_groups_for_benchmark(benchmark_name, filter_plan):
             filter_plan.global_axis_filters + scope.axis_filters
             for scope in matching_scopes
         ]
-    if filter_plan.global_axis_filters:
-        return [filter_plan.global_axis_filters]
     return []
 
 
diff --git a/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py b/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
index fc54cb2..46f3626 100644
--- a/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
+++ b/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
@@ -2077,7 +2077,7 @@ def test_axis_filter_applies_to_most_recent_benchmark(monkeypatch, nvbench_compa
     assert run_data.stats.unknown_count == 0
 
 
-def test_global_axis_filter_still_applies_after_benchmark_scope(
+def test_global_axis_filter_does_not_select_unmatched_benchmark(
     monkeypatch, nvbench_compare
 ):
     run_data = make_comparison_run_data(nvbench_compare)
@@ -2130,6 +2130,67 @@ def test_global_axis_filter_still_applies_after_benchmark_scope(
         no_color=True,
     )
 
+    assert run_data.stats.config_count == 1
+    assert run_data.stats.pass_count == 0
+    assert run_data.stats.improvement_count == 0
+    assert run_data.stats.regression_count == 0
+    assert run_data.stats.undecided_count == 1
+    assert run_data.stats.unknown_count == 0
+
+
+def test_global_axis_filter_applies_to_each_selected_benchmark(
+    monkeypatch, nvbench_compare
+):
+    run_data = make_comparison_run_data(nvbench_compare)
+
+    ref_benches = [
+        make_benchmark(
+            [
+                make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", mean="1.0", axis_value=1),
+                make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", mean="2.0", axis_value=2),
+            ],
+            name="bench1",
+        ),
+        make_benchmark(
+            [
+                make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", mean="3.0", axis_value=1),
+                make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", mean="4.0", axis_value=2),
+            ],
+            name="bench2",
+        ),
+    ]
+    cmp_benches = [
+        make_benchmark(
+            [
+                make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", mean="1.0", axis_value=1),
+                make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", mean="2.0", axis_value=2),
+            ],
+            name="bench1",
+        ),
+        make_benchmark(
+            [
+                make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", mean="3.0", axis_value=1),
+                make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", mean="4.0", axis_value=2),
+            ],
+            name="bench2",
+        ),
+    ]
+
+    nvbench_compare.compare_benches(
+        run_data,
+        ref_benches,
+        cmp_benches,
+        threshold=0.0,
+        plot_along=None,
+        plot=False,
+        dark=False,
+        filter_plan=make_filter_plan(
+            nvbench_compare,
+            [("axis", "A=2"), ("benchmark", "bench1"), ("benchmark", "bench2")],
+        ),
+        no_color=True,
+    )
+
     assert run_data.stats.config_count == 2
     assert run_data.stats.pass_count == 0
     assert run_data.stats.improvement_count == 0