diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index 538c26a49475..a192d7c82b98 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ def __init__(self, figure):
         w, h = self.get_width_height()
         self.resize(w, h)
 
+        # Key auto-repeat enabled by default
+        self._keyautorepeat = True
+
     def wheelEvent(self, event):
         x = event.x()
         # flipy so y=0 is bottom of canvas
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index 1adda350b9bf..d1653f71cb4f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
 
 class TimerQT(TimerBase):
     '''
-    Subclass of :class:`backend_bases.TimerBase` that uses Qt4 timer events.
+    Subclass of :class:`backend_bases.TimerBase` that uses Qt timer events.
 
     Attributes:
     * interval: The time between timer events in milliseconds. Default
@@ -242,6 +242,9 @@ def __init__(self, figure):
         w, h = self.get_width_height()
         self.resize(w, h)
 
+        # Key auto-repeat enabled by default
+        self._keyautorepeat = True
+
     def enterEvent(self, event):
         FigureCanvasBase.enter_notify_event(self, guiEvent=event)
 
@@ -322,6 +325,17 @@ def keyReleaseEvent(self, event):
         if DEBUG:
             print('key release', key)
 
+    @property
+    def keyAutoRepeat(self):
+        """
+        If True, enable auto-repeat for key events.
+        """
+        return self._keyautorepeat
+
+    @keyAutoRepeat.setter
+    def keyAutoRepeat(self, val):
+        self._keyautorepeat = bool(val)
+
     def resizeEvent(self, event):
         w = event.size().width()
         h = event.size().height()
@@ -344,7 +358,7 @@ def minumumSizeHint(self):
         return QtCore.QSize(10, 10)
 
     def _get_key(self, event):
-        if event.isAutoRepeat():
+        if not self._keyautorepeat and event.isAutoRepeat():
             return None
 
         event_key = event.key()