diff --git a/holoviews/element/__init__.py b/holoviews/element/__init__.py
index 3312b5651c..fea3de9751 100644
--- a/holoviews/element/__init__.py
+++ b/holoviews/element/__init__.py
@@ -31,18 +31,24 @@ def curve(self, kdims=None, vdims=None, mdims=None, **kwargs):
     def errorbars(self, kdims=None, vdims=None, mdims=None, **kwargs):
         return self(ErrorBars, kdims, vdims, mdims, sort=True, **kwargs)
 
-    def distribution(self, dim, mdims=[], **kwargs):
+    def distribution(self, dim=None, mdims=[], **kwargs):
         from ..interface.seaborn import Distribution
+        if dim is None:
+            if self._element.vdims:
+                dim = self._element.vdims[0]
+            else:
+                raise Exception('Must supply an explicit value dimension '
+                                'if no value dimensions are defined ')
         if mdims:
-            reindexed = self._table.reindex(mdims+[dim])
+            reindexed = self._element.reindex(mdims, [dim])
             return reindexed.groupby(mdims, HoloMap, Distribution, **kwargs)
         else:
-            table = self._table
-            params = dict(kdims=[table.get_dimension(dim)],
-                          label=table.label)
-            if table.group != table.params()['group'].default:
-                params['group'] = table.group
-            return Distribution((table.dimension_values(dim),),
+            element = self._element
+            params = dict(vdims=[element.get_dimension(dim)],
+                          label=element.label)
+            if element.group != element.params()['group'].default:
+                params['group'] = element.group
+            return Distribution((element.dimension_values(dim),),
                                 **dict(params, **kwargs))
 
     def heatmap(self, kdims=None, vdims=None, mdims=None, **kwargs):
diff --git a/holoviews/interface/seaborn.py b/holoviews/interface/seaborn.py
index 89da0d250d..3c937568ac 100644
--- a/holoviews/interface/seaborn.py
+++ b/holoviews/interface/seaborn.py
@@ -93,11 +93,11 @@ class Distribution(Chart):
     list. Internally it uses Seaborn to make all the conversions.
     """
 
-    kdims = param.List(default=[], bounds=(0,0))
+    kdims = param.List(default=[])
 
     group = param.String(default='Distribution', constant=True)
 
-    vdims = param.List(default=[Dimension('Frequency')])
+    vdims = param.List(default=[Dimension('Value')])
 
     _1d = True
 
diff --git a/holoviews/plotting/mpl/seaborn.py b/holoviews/plotting/mpl/seaborn.py
index fd48d09c18..4a9fdb6ada 100644
--- a/holoviews/plotting/mpl/seaborn.py
+++ b/holoviews/plotting/mpl/seaborn.py
@@ -147,8 +147,9 @@ def get_data(self, element, ranges, style):
         style.pop('zorder', None)
         if self.invert_axes:
             style['vertical'] = True
-        axis_kwargs = dict(xlabel='', ylabel=str(element.get_dimension(0)))
-        return (element.dimension_values(0),), style, axis_kwargs
+        vdim = element.vdims[0]
+        axis_kwargs = dict(dimensions=[vdim])
+        return (element.dimension_values(vdim),), style, axis_kwargs
 
     def init_artists(self, ax, plot_data, plot_kwargs):
         return {'axis': sns.distplot(*plot_data, ax=ax, **plot_kwargs)}