diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variation_plot.m b/analysis/matlab/variation_plot.m
index 6b28e51..4c60752 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variation_plot.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variation_plot.m
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
 set(gca, 'XTick', xd, 'XTickLabel', {}, 'Position', [0.2 0.30 0.60 0.60], ...
     'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'LineWidth', 1.5, 'Box', 'off', 'TickDir', 'out');
 xticklabels('auto')
+if strcmp(metric, 'count')       % success count: y-ticks every 5 units
+    yl = ylim(gca);
+    set(gca, 'YTick', floor(yl(1) / 5) * 5 : 5 : ceil(yl(2) / 5) * 5);
+end
+grid on
 drawnow;
 exportgraphics(fig, outFile, 'Resolution', 150);
 close(fig);