diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5agg.py
index 7c110762eb9e..656c837e5e65 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5agg.py
@@ -75,7 +75,11 @@ def paintEvent(self, e):
         In Qt, all drawing should be done inside of here when a widget is
         shown onscreen.
         """
-        # FigureCanvasQT.paintEvent(self, e)
+        # if the canvas does not have a renderer, then give up and wait for
+        # FigureCanvasAgg.draw(self) to be called
+        if not hasattr(self, 'renderer'):
+            return
+
         if DEBUG:
             print('FigureCanvasQtAgg.paintEvent: ', self,
                   self.get_width_height())