diff --git a/INSTALL b/INSTALL
index a81ae7e1a104..02e5946e89d5 100644
--- a/INSTALL
+++ b/INSTALL
@@ -214,6 +214,10 @@ libpng 1.2 (or later)
 ``cycler`` 0.9 or later
    Composable cycle class used for constructing style-cycles
 
+`functools32`
+    Required for compatibility if running on versions of Python before
+    Python 3.2.
+
 
 Optional GUI framework
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
index f3b23ca95531..5c4c4d96c6c4 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@
      FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase
 from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, maxdict, restrict_dict
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
-from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont
-from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Font, LOAD_FORCE_AUTOHINT, LOAD_NO_HINTING, \
+from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, get_font
+from matplotlib.ft2font import LOAD_FORCE_AUTOHINT, LOAD_NO_HINTING, \
      LOAD_DEFAULT, LOAD_NO_AUTOHINT
 from matplotlib.mathtext import MathTextParser
 from matplotlib.path import Path
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ class RendererAgg(RendererBase):
     # renderer at a time
 
     lock = threading.RLock()
-    _fontd = maxdict(50)
     def __init__(self, width, height, dpi):
         if __debug__: verbose.report('RendererAgg.__init__', 'debug-annoying')
         RendererBase.__init__(self)
@@ -191,6 +190,7 @@ def draw_text(self, gc, x, y, s, prop, angle, ismath=False, mtext=None):
 
         flags = get_hinting_flag()
         font = self._get_agg_font(prop)
+
         if font is None: return None
         if len(s) == 1 and ord(s) > 127:
             font.load_char(ord(s), flags=flags)
@@ -272,18 +272,10 @@ def _get_agg_font(self, prop):
         if __debug__: verbose.report('RendererAgg._get_agg_font',
                                      'debug-annoying')
 
-        key = hash(prop)
-        font = RendererAgg._fontd.get(key)
-
-        if font is None:
-            fname = findfont(prop)
-            font = RendererAgg._fontd.get(fname)
-            if font is None:
-                font = FT2Font(
-                    fname,
-                    hinting_factor=rcParams['text.hinting_factor'])
-                RendererAgg._fontd[fname] = font
-            RendererAgg._fontd[key] = font
+        fname = findfont(prop)
+        font = get_font(
+            fname,
+            hinting_factor=rcParams['text.hinting_factor'])
 
         font.clear()
         size = prop.get_size_in_points()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
index 0ef7c1c49634..0dad65eec996 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@
 from matplotlib.cbook import Bunch, is_string_like, \
     get_realpath_and_stat, is_writable_file_like, maxdict
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
-from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, is_opentype_cff_font
+from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, is_opentype_cff_font, get_font
 from matplotlib.afm import AFM
 import matplotlib.type1font as type1font
 import matplotlib.dviread as dviread
-from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Font, FIXED_WIDTH, ITALIC, LOAD_NO_SCALE, \
+from matplotlib.ft2font import FIXED_WIDTH, ITALIC, LOAD_NO_SCALE, \
     LOAD_NO_HINTING, KERNING_UNFITTED
 from matplotlib.mathtext import MathTextParser
 from matplotlib.transforms import Affine2D, BboxBase
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ def createType1Descriptor(self, t1font, fontfile):
         if 0:
             flags |= 1 << 18
 
-        ft2font = FT2Font(fontfile)
+        ft2font = get_font(fontfile)
 
         descriptor = {
             'Type':        Name('FontDescriptor'),
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ def _get_xobject_symbol_name(self, filename, symbol_name):
     def embedTTF(self, filename, characters):
         """Embed the TTF font from the named file into the document."""
 
-        font = FT2Font(filename)
+        font = get_font(filename)
         fonttype = rcParams['pdf.fonttype']
 
         def cvt(length, upe=font.units_per_EM, nearest=True):
@@ -1526,7 +1526,6 @@ def writeTrailer(self):
 
 
 class RendererPdf(RendererBase):
-    truetype_font_cache = maxdict(50)
     afm_font_cache = maxdict(50)
 
     def __init__(self, file, image_dpi):
@@ -2126,15 +2125,8 @@ def _get_font_afm(self, prop):
         return font
 
     def _get_font_ttf(self, prop):
-        key = hash(prop)
-        font = self.truetype_font_cache.get(key)
-        if font is None:
-            filename = findfont(prop)
-            font = self.truetype_font_cache.get(filename)
-            if font is None:
-                font = FT2Font(filename)
-                self.truetype_font_cache[filename] = font
-            self.truetype_font_cache[key] = font
+        filename = findfont(prop)
+        font = get_font(filename)
         font.clear()
         font.set_size(prop.get_size_in_points(), 72)
         return font
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
index ce00652e1388..4f00ea0b43ab 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
@@ -36,10 +36,9 @@
 system_fonts = []
 if sys.platform.startswith('win'):
     from matplotlib import font_manager
-    from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Font
     for f in font_manager.win32InstalledFonts():
         try:
-            system_fonts.append(FT2Font(str(f)).family_name)
+            system_fonts.append(font_manager.get_font(str(f)).family_name)
         except:
             pass # unknown error, skip this font
 else:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
index 3f1145a5b14e..bb6f83afc667 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ def _fn_name(): return sys._getframe(1).f_code.co_name
     is_writable_file_like, maxdict, file_requires_unicode
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 
-from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, is_opentype_cff_font
-from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Font, KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_NO_HINTING
+from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, is_opentype_cff_font, get_font
+from matplotlib.ft2font import KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_NO_HINTING
 from matplotlib.ttconv import convert_ttf_to_ps
 from matplotlib.mathtext import MathTextParser
 from matplotlib._mathtext_data import uni2type1
@@ -199,7 +199,6 @@ class RendererPS(RendererBase):
     context instance that controls the colors/styles.
     """
 
-    fontd = maxdict(50)
     afmfontd = maxdict(50)
 
     def __init__(self, width, height, pswriter, imagedpi=72):
@@ -393,15 +392,8 @@ def _get_font_afm(self, prop):
         return font
 
     def _get_font_ttf(self, prop):
-        key = hash(prop)
-        font = self.fontd.get(key)
-        if font is None:
-            fname = findfont(prop)
-            font = self.fontd.get(fname)
-            if font is None:
-                font = FT2Font(fname)
-                self.fontd[fname] = font
-            self.fontd[key] = font
+        fname = findfont(prop)
+        font = get_font(fname)
         font.clear()
         size = prop.get_size_in_points()
         font.set_size(size, 72.0)
@@ -1145,7 +1137,7 @@ def print_figure_impl():
             if not rcParams['ps.useafm']:
                 for font_filename, chars in six.itervalues(ps_renderer.used_characters):
                     if len(chars):
-                        font = FT2Font(font_filename)
+                        font = get_font(font_filename)
                         cmap = font.get_charmap()
                         glyph_ids = []
                         for c in chars:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
index 4e137936b96d..9c59c8bbbfee 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, is_writable_file_like, maxdict
 from matplotlib.colors import rgb2hex
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
-from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, FontProperties
-from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Font, KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_NO_HINTING
+from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, FontProperties, get_font
+from matplotlib.ft2font import KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_NO_HINTING
 from matplotlib.mathtext import MathTextParser
 from matplotlib.path import Path
 from matplotlib import _path
@@ -326,15 +326,8 @@ def _make_flip_transform(self, transform):
                 .translate(0.0, self.height))
 
     def _get_font(self, prop):
-        key = hash(prop)
-        font = self.fontd.get(key)
-        if font is None:
-            fname = findfont(prop)
-            font = self.fontd.get(fname)
-            if font is None:
-                font = FT2Font(fname)
-                self.fontd[fname] = font
-            self.fontd[key] = font
+        fname = findfont(prop)
+        font = get_font(fname)
         font.clear()
         size = prop.get_size_in_points()
         font.set_size(size, 72.0)
@@ -495,7 +488,7 @@ def _write_svgfonts(self):
         writer = self.writer
         writer.start('defs')
         for font_fname, chars in six.iteritems(self._fonts):
-            font = FT2Font(font_fname)
+            font = get_font(font_fname)
             font.set_size(72, 72)
             sfnt = font.get_sfnt()
             writer.start('font', id=sfnt[(1, 0, 0, 4)])
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py b/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py
index 7bba3b8ae3ae..1dfae5e10c97 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/font_manager.py
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@
 from matplotlib.fontconfig_pattern import \
     parse_fontconfig_pattern, generate_fontconfig_pattern
 
+try:
+    from functools import lru_cache
+except ImportError:
+    from functools32 import lru_cache
+
+
 USE_FONTCONFIG = False
 verbose = matplotlib.verbose
 
@@ -733,7 +739,7 @@ def get_name(self):
         Return the name of the font that best matches the font
         properties.
         """
-        return ft2font.FT2Font(findfont(self)).family_name
+        return get_font(findfont(self)).family_name
 
     def get_style(self):
         """
@@ -1336,7 +1342,6 @@ def findfont(self, prop, fontext='ttf', directory=None,
             _lookup_cache[fontext].set(prop, result)
         return result
 
-
 _is_opentype_cff_font_cache = {}
 def is_opentype_cff_font(filename):
     """
@@ -1357,6 +1362,10 @@ def is_opentype_cff_font(filename):
 fontManager = None
 _fmcache = None
 
+
+get_font = lru_cache(64)(ft2font.FT2Font)
+
+
 # The experimental fontconfig-based backend.
 if USE_FONTCONFIG and sys.platform != 'win32':
     import re
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mathtext.py b/lib/matplotlib/mathtext.py
index 90e45a3c4d75..7971366a0dd0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/mathtext.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/mathtext.py
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@
 from matplotlib.afm import AFM
 from matplotlib.cbook import Bunch, get_realpath_and_stat, \
     is_string_like, maxdict
-from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Font, FT2Image, KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_FORCE_AUTOHINT, LOAD_NO_HINTING
-from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, FontProperties
+from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Image, KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_FORCE_AUTOHINT, LOAD_NO_HINTING
+from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont, FontProperties, get_font
 from matplotlib._mathtext_data import latex_to_bakoma, \
         latex_to_standard, tex2uni, latex_to_cmex, stix_virtual_fonts
 from matplotlib import get_data_path, rcParams
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ def __init__(self, default_font_prop, mathtext_backend):
         self._fonts = {}
 
         filename = findfont(default_font_prop)
-        default_font = self.CachedFont(FT2Font(filename))
+        default_font = self.CachedFont(get_font(filename))
         self._fonts['default'] = default_font
         self._fonts['regular'] = default_font
 
@@ -576,10 +576,9 @@ def _get_font(self, font):
             basename = self.fontmap[font]
         else:
             basename = font
-
         cached_font = self._fonts.get(basename)
         if cached_font is None and os.path.exists(basename):
-            font = FT2Font(basename)
+            font = get_font(basename)
             cached_font = self.CachedFont(font)
             self._fonts[basename] = cached_font
             self._fonts[font.postscript_name] = cached_font
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/__init__.py
index 20a4ae3c6087..9b06bd1cbc91 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/__init__.py
@@ -49,12 +49,6 @@ def setup():
     rcParams['text.hinting'] = False
     rcParams['text.hinting_factor'] = 8
 
-    # Clear the font caches.  Otherwise, the hinting mode can travel
-    # from one test to another.
-    backend_agg.RendererAgg._fontd.clear()
-    backend_pdf.RendererPdf.truetype_font_cache.clear()
-    backend_svg.RendererSVG.fontd.clear()
-
 
 def assert_str_equal(reference_str, test_str,
                      format_str=('String {str1} and {str2} do not '
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/textpath.py b/lib/matplotlib/textpath.py
index d46dd27898b1..e0f7fbe8d400 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/textpath.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/textpath.py
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@
 from matplotlib.path import Path
 from matplotlib import rcParams
 import matplotlib.font_manager as font_manager
-from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Font, KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_NO_HINTING
+from matplotlib.ft2font import KERNING_DEFAULT, LOAD_NO_HINTING
 from matplotlib.ft2font import LOAD_TARGET_LIGHT
 from matplotlib.mathtext import MathTextParser
 import matplotlib.dviread as dviread
-from matplotlib.font_manager import FontProperties
+from matplotlib.font_manager import FontProperties, get_font
 from matplotlib.transforms import Affine2D
 from matplotlib.externals.six.moves.urllib.parse import quote as urllib_quote
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def _get_font(self, prop):
         find a ttf font.
         """
         fname = font_manager.findfont(prop)
-        font = FT2Font(fname)
+        font = get_font(fname)
         font.set_size(self.FONT_SCALE, self.DPI)
 
         return font
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ def get_glyphs_tex(self, prop, s, glyph_map=None,
             font_bunch = self.tex_font_map[dvifont.texname]
 
             if font_and_encoding is None:
-                font = FT2Font(font_bunch.filename)
+                font = get_font(font_bunch.filename)
 
                 for charmap_name, charmap_code in [("ADOBE_CUSTOM",
                                                     1094992451),
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/__init__.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/__init__.py
index 20a4ae3c6087..9b06bd1cbc91 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/__init__.py
@@ -49,12 +49,6 @@ def setup():
     rcParams['text.hinting'] = False
     rcParams['text.hinting_factor'] = 8
 
-    # Clear the font caches.  Otherwise, the hinting mode can travel
-    # from one test to another.
-    backend_agg.RendererAgg._fontd.clear()
-    backend_pdf.RendererPdf.truetype_font_cache.clear()
-    backend_svg.RendererSVG.fontd.clear()
-
 
 def assert_str_equal(reference_str, test_str,
                      format_str=('String {str1} and {str2} do not '
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f3ecd708f54f..b3fb0413699e 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
     'Required dependencies and extensions',
     setupext.Numpy(),
     setupext.Dateutil(),
+    setupext.FuncTools32(),
     setupext.Pytz(),
     setupext.Cycler(),
     setupext.Tornado(),
diff --git a/setupext.py b/setupext.py
index 0a9660b6f7c8..1c70adde064e 100755
--- a/setupext.py
+++ b/setupext.py
@@ -1221,6 +1221,29 @@ def get_install_requires(self):
         return [dateutil]
 
 
+class FuncTools32(SetupPackage):
+    name = "functools32"
+
+    def check(self):
+        if sys.version_info[:2] < (3, 2):
+            try:
+                import functools32
+            except ImportError:
+                return (
+                    "functools32 was not found. It is required for for"
+                    "python versions prior to 3.2")
+
+            return "using functools32"
+        else:
+            return "Not required"
+
+    def get_install_requires(self):
+        if sys.version_info[:2] < (3, 2):
+            return ['functools32']
+        else:
+            return []
+
+
 class Tornado(OptionalPackage):
     name = "tornado"