diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_tools.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_tools.py
index a0e486f359c6..2fcc8a2bebfb 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_tools.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_tools.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import six
 import time
 import warnings
+import numpy as np
 
 
 class Cursors(object):