diff --git a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
index 9e28698281..dc64bcb5ea 100644
--- a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
+++ b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ function register_taxonomy( $taxonomy, $object_type, $args = array() ) {
 		$wp->add_query_var($args['query_var']);
 	}
 
-	if ( false !== $args['rewrite'] && '' != get_option('permalink_structure') ) {
+	if ( false !== $args['rewrite'] && ( is_admin() || '' != get_option('permalink_structure') ) ) {
 		$args['rewrite'] = wp_parse_args($args['rewrite'], array(
 			'slug' => sanitize_title_with_dashes($taxonomy),
 			'with_front' => true,