diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
index 1e94d90d1534..e5ae9a0cc11c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -182,7 +182,8 @@ def findobj(o=None, match=None, include_self=True):
 
 
 def _get_required_interactive_framework(backend_mod):
-    if not hasattr(backend_mod.FigureCanvas, "required_interactive_framework"):
+    if not hasattr(getattr(backend_mod, "FigureCanvas", None),
+                   "required_interactive_framework"):
         _api.warn_deprecated(
             "3.6", name="Support for FigureCanvases without a "
             "required_interactive_framework attribute")