diff --git a/common/eda_units.cpp b/common/eda_units.cpp
index 93c2bb0251..5315275c16 100644
--- a/common/eda_units.cpp
+++ b/common/eda_units.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ int EDA_UNIT_UTILS::Mils2mm( double aVal )
 }
 
 
-void EDA_UNIT_UTILS::FetchUnitsFromString( const wxString& aTextValue, EDA_UNITS& aUnits )
+bool EDA_UNIT_UTILS::FetchUnitsFromString( const wxString& aTextValue, EDA_UNITS& aUnits )
 {
     wxString buf( aTextValue.Strip( wxString::both ) );
     unsigned brk_point = 0;
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ void EDA_UNIT_UTILS::FetchUnitsFromString( const wxString& aTextValue, EDA_UNITS
         aUnits = EDA_UNITS::INCHES;
     else if( unit == wxT( "de" ) || unit == wxT( "ra" ) ) // "deg" or "rad"
         aUnits = EDA_UNITS::DEGREES;
+    else
+        return false;
+    return true;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/include/eda_units.h b/include/eda_units.h
index 89546f0911..0e0bcfcc73 100644
--- a/include/eda_units.h
+++ b/include/eda_units.h
@@ -67,8 +67,9 @@ namespace EDA_UNIT_UTILS
 
     /**
      * Writes any unit info found in the string to aUnits.
+     * @return true - when unit was found, false - when unit could not be determined
      */
-    void FetchUnitsFromString( const wxString& aTextValue, EDA_UNITS& aUnits );
+    bool FetchUnitsFromString( const wxString& aTextValue, EDA_UNITS& aUnits );
 
     /**
      * Get the units string for a given units type.
diff --git a/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_parser.cpp b/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_parser.cpp
index a6dd1d2b76..6e28b2e660 100644
--- a/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_parser.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/plugins/kicad/pcb_parser.cpp
@@ -3226,8 +3226,11 @@ PCB_DIMENSION_BASE* PCB_PARSER::parseDIMENSION( BOARD_ITEM* aParent, bool aInFP
 
             if( isLegacyDimension )
             {
-                EDA_UNITS units   = EDA_UNITS::INCHES;
-                EDA_UNIT_UTILS::FetchUnitsFromString( text->GetText(), units );
+                EDA_UNITS units = EDA_UNITS::MILLIMETRES;
+
+                if( !EDA_UNIT_UTILS::FetchUnitsFromString( text->GetText(), units ) )
+                    dim->SetAutoUnits( true ); //Not determined => use automatic units
+
                 dim->SetUnits( units );
             }