diff --git a/darshan-util/pydarshan/darshan/experimental/plots/plot_posix_access_pattern.py b/darshan-util/pydarshan/darshan/experimental/plots/plot_posix_access_pattern.py
index 63f4478d9..b3cc476cb 100644
--- a/darshan-util/pydarshan/darshan/experimental/plots/plot_posix_access_pattern.py
+++ b/darshan-util/pydarshan/darshan/experimental/plots/plot_posix_access_pattern.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def autolabel(ax, rects):
             textcoords="offset points",
             ha='center',
             va='bottom',
-            rotation=0,
+            rotation=45,
         )
 
 def plot_posix_access_pattern(record, ax=None):
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ def plot_posix_access_pattern(record, ax=None):
     ax.set_xticklabels(labels)
     ax.legend()
 
+    ax.spines[['right', 'top']].set_visible(False)
+
     autolabel(ax=ax, rects=rects_total)
     autolabel(ax=ax, rects=rects_seq)
     autolabel(ax=ax, rects=rects_consec)