diff --git a/examples/misc/multiprocess.py b/examples/misc/multiprocess.py
index 510e9001fa3e..38a67507b4ff 100644
--- a/examples/misc/multiprocess.py
+++ b/examples/misc/multiprocess.py
@@ -6,11 +6,12 @@
 import time
 from multiprocessing import Process, Pipe
 import numpy as np
-
 import matplotlib
-matplotlib.use('GtkAgg')
+# not all backends may allow safe plotting from multiple threads
+# you can select a specific backend by uncommenting the line below
+# and update the selected backend as needed
+# matplotlib.use('QT5Agg')
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-import gobject
 
 
 class ProcessPlotter(object):
@@ -21,35 +22,33 @@ def __init__(self):
     def terminate(self):
         plt.close('all')
 
-    def poll_draw(self):
-
-        def call_back():
-            while 1:
-                if not self.pipe.poll():
-                    break
+    def call_back(self):
+        while True:
+            if not self.pipe.poll():
+                break
 
-                command = self.pipe.recv()
+            command = self.pipe.recv()
 
-                if command is None:
-                    self.terminate()
-                    return False
+            if command is None:
+                self.terminate()
+                return False
 
-                else:
-                    self.x.append(command[0])
-                    self.y.append(command[1])
-                    self.ax.plot(self.x, self.y, 'ro')
+            else:
+                self.x.append(command[0])
+                self.y.append(command[1])
+                self.ax.plot(self.x, self.y, 'ro')
 
-            self.fig.canvas.draw()
-            return True
-
-        return call_back
+        self.fig.canvas.draw_idle()
+        return True
 
     def __call__(self, pipe):
         print('starting plotter...')
 
         self.pipe = pipe
         self.fig, self.ax = plt.subplots()
-        self.gid = gobject.timeout_add(1000, self.poll_draw())
+        timer = self.fig.canvas.new_timer(interval=1000)
+        timer.add_callback(self.call_back)
+        timer.start()
 
         print('...done')
         plt.show()
@@ -78,8 +77,15 @@ def main():
     for ii in range(10):
         pl.plot()
         time.sleep(0.5)
-    raw_input('press Enter...')
+
     pl.plot(finished=True)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    # The default way to start a process on OSX ('fork')
+    # does not work well with many gui frameworks on OSX
+    # if you use Python 3.4 or later you can uncomment the
+    # two lines below to change the default start to
+    # forkserver.
+    # import multiprocessing as mp
+    # mp.set_start_method('forkserver')
     main()