diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
index 267887db908c..d2bcbace5230 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ def _Button(self, text, image_file, toggle, command):
             # other near checkbuttons
             # https://bugs.python.org/issue29402
             # https://bugs.python.org/issue25684
-            var = tk.IntVar()
+            var = tk.IntVar(master=self)
             b = tk.Checkbutton(
                 master=self, text=text, image=image, command=command,
                 indicatoron=False, variable=var)