diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
index 772ed0ca07b8..a597dc2b47e3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 import matplotlib
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 
-from .backend_qt5agg import new_figure_manager, NavigationToolbar2QTAgg
+from .backend_qt5agg import NavigationToolbar2QTAgg
 from .backend_qt5agg import FigureCanvasQTAggBase
 
 from .backend_agg import FigureCanvasAgg
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@
 _decref.restype = None
 
 
+def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance
+    """
+    if DEBUG:
+        print('backend_qt4agg.new_figure_manager')
+    FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
+    thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+
+
 def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
     """
     Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.