diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/mpl.js b/lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/mpl.js
index cebc8d12b76d..a4f421031fe2 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/mpl.js
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/mpl.js
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@ mpl.figure.prototype._init_canvas = function() {
     // upon first draw.
     this._resize_canvas(600, 600);
 
+    // Disable right mouse context menu.
+    $(this.rubberband_canvas).bind("contextmenu",function(e){
+        return false;
+    });
 
     function set_focus () {
         canvas.focus();
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/nbagg_mpl.js b/lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/nbagg_mpl.js
index fa333ddc974f..eb511888ce62 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/nbagg_mpl.js
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/nbagg_mpl.js
@@ -52,11 +52,6 @@ mpl.mpl_figure_comm = function(comm, msg) {
     var output_index = fig.cell_info[2]
     var cell = fig.cell_info[0];
 
-    // Disable right mouse context menu.
-    $(fig.rubberband_canvas).bind("contextmenu",function(e){
-        return false;
-    });
-
 };
 
 mpl.figure.prototype.handle_close = function(fig, msg) {