diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index 6f831cf2172c..08cdeb73c2d9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@ def __init__(self, figure):
         self._draw_pending = False
         self._is_drawing = False
 
-    def set_cursor(self, cursor):
-        # docstring inherited
-        _macosx.set_cursor(cursor)
-
     def draw(self):
         """Render the figure and update the macosx canvas."""
         # The renderer draw is done here; delaying causes problems with code
diff --git a/src/_macosx.m b/src/_macosx.m
index ce5bb51d9e76..943125092e54 100755
--- a/src/_macosx.m
+++ b/src/_macosx.m
@@ -361,6 +361,25 @@ static CGFloat _get_device_scale(CGContextRef cr)
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
 
+static PyObject*
+FigureCanvas_set_cursor(PyObject* unused, PyObject* args)
+{
+    int i;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "i", &i)) { return NULL; }
+    switch (i) {
+      case 1: [[NSCursor arrowCursor] set]; break;
+      case 2: [[NSCursor pointingHandCursor] set]; break;
+      case 3: [[NSCursor crosshairCursor] set]; break;
+      case 4: [[NSCursor openHandCursor] set]; break;
+      /* OSX handles busy state itself so no need to set a cursor here */
+      case 5: break;
+      case 6: [[NSCursor resizeLeftRightCursor] set]; break;
+      case 7: [[NSCursor resizeUpDownCursor] set]; break;
+      default: return NULL;
+    }
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+
 static PyObject*
 FigureCanvas_set_rubberband(FigureCanvas* self, PyObject *args)
 {
@@ -489,14 +508,18 @@ static CGFloat _get_device_scale(CGContextRef cr)
          (PyCFunction)FigureCanvas_flush_events,
          METH_NOARGS,
          NULL},  // docstring inherited
+        {"set_cursor",
+         (PyCFunction)FigureCanvas_set_cursor,
+         METH_VARARGS,
+         "Set the active cursor."},
         {"set_rubberband",
          (PyCFunction)FigureCanvas_set_rubberband,
          METH_VARARGS,
-         "Specifies a new rubberband rectangle and invalidates it."},
+         "Specify a new rubberband rectangle and invalidate it."},
         {"remove_rubberband",
          (PyCFunction)FigureCanvas_remove_rubberband,
          METH_NOARGS,
-         "Removes the current rubberband rectangle."},
+         "Remove the current rubberband rectangle."},
         {"start_event_loop",
          (PyCFunction)FigureCanvas_start_event_loop,
          METH_KEYWORDS | METH_VARARGS,
@@ -1020,25 +1043,6 @@ -(void)save_figure:(id)sender { gil_call_method(toolbar, "save_figure"); }
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
 
-static PyObject*
-set_cursor(PyObject* unused, PyObject* args)
-{
-    int i;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "i", &i)) { return NULL; }
-    switch (i) {
-      case 1: [[NSCursor arrowCursor] set]; break;
-      case 2: [[NSCursor pointingHandCursor] set]; break;
-      case 3: [[NSCursor crosshairCursor] set]; break;
-      case 4: [[NSCursor openHandCursor] set]; break;
-      /* OSX handles busy state itself so no need to set a cursor here */
-      case 5: break;
-      case 6: [[NSCursor resizeLeftRightCursor] set]; break;
-      case 7: [[NSCursor resizeUpDownCursor] set]; break;
-      default: return NULL;
-    }
-    Py_RETURN_NONE;
-}
-
 @implementation WindowServerConnectionManager
 static WindowServerConnectionManager *sharedWindowServerConnectionManager = nil;
 
@@ -1916,10 +1920,6 @@ static void context_cleanup(const void* info)
          (PyCFunction)choose_save_file,
          METH_VARARGS,
          "Query the user for a location where to save a file."},
-        {"set_cursor",
-         (PyCFunction)set_cursor,
-         METH_VARARGS,
-         "Set the active cursor."},
         {}  /* Sentinel */
     },
 };