diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index b2b0eb1b5714..a132609c1155 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -1460,7 +1460,7 @@ def tk_window_focus():
     # variable MPLBACKEND
     try:
         use(os.environ['MPLBACKEND'])
-    except (KeyError, ValueError):
+    except KeyError:
         pass