diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/dviread.py b/lib/matplotlib/dviread.py
index 08885851f64c..665f301f1013 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/dviread.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/dviread.py
@@ -451,7 +451,11 @@ def _fnt_def_real(self, k, c, s, d, a, l):
         fontname = n[-l:].decode('ascii')
         tfm = _tfmfile(fontname)
         if tfm is None:
-            raise FileNotFoundError("missing font metrics file: %s" % fontname)
+            if six.PY2:
+                error_class = OSError
+            else:
+                error_class = FileNotFoundError
+            raise error_class("missing font metrics file: %s" % fontname)
         if c != 0 and tfm.checksum != 0 and c != tfm.checksum:
             raise ValueError('tfm checksum mismatch: %s' % n)