diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 90f747522a39..09ef492d9c4b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ def start(self, interval=None):
         to reset the timer interval first if provided.
         '''
         if interval is not None:
-            self.set_interval(interval)
+            self._set_interval(interval)
         self._timer_start()
 
     def stop(self):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index e36a8a110278..45fe444743d8 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -99,12 +99,17 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self._timer = QtCore.QTimer()
         QtCore.QObject.connect(self._timer, QtCore.SIGNAL('timeout()'),
             self._on_timer)
+        self._timer_set_interval()
 
     def __del__(self):
         # Probably not necessary in practice, but is good behavior to disconnect
-        TimerBase.__del__(self)
-        QtCore.QObject.disconnect(self._timer , QtCore.SIGNAL('timeout()'),
-            self._on_timer)
+        try:
+            TimerBase.__del__(self)
+            QtCore.QObject.disconnect(self._timer,
+                    QtCore.SIGNAL('timeout()'), self._on_timer)
+        except RuntimeError:
+            # Timer C++ object already deleted
+            pass
 
     def _timer_set_single_shot(self):
         self._timer.setSingleShot(self._single)