diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
index be59670bb426..8e5b991daf80 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ def on_draw_event(self, widget, ctx):
         w, h = allocation.width, allocation.height
 
         if not len(self._bbox_queue):
-            self._render_figure(w, h)
             Gtk.render_background(
                 self.get_style_context(), ctx,
                 allocation.x, allocation.y,
@@ -71,6 +70,12 @@ def blit(self, bbox=None):
         self._bbox_queue.append(bbox)
         self.queue_draw_area(x, y, width, height)
 
+    def draw(self):
+        if self.get_visible() and self.get_mapped():
+            allocation = self.get_allocation()
+            self._render_figure(allocation.width, allocation.height)
+        super().draw()
+
     def print_png(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
         # Do this so we can save the resolution of figure in the PNG file
         agg = self.switch_backends(backend_agg.FigureCanvasAgg)