diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index ddbdf56e8177..00f75987a3ef 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -291,7 +291,11 @@ def get_width_height(self):
         return int(w / self._dpi_ratio), int(h / self._dpi_ratio)
 
     def enterEvent(self, event):
-        x, y = self.mouseEventCoords(event.pos())
+        try:
+            x, y = self.mouseEventCoords(event.pos())
+        except AttributeError:
+            # the event from PyQt4 does not include the position
+            x = y = None
         FigureCanvasBase.enter_notify_event(self, guiEvent=event, xy=(x, y))
 
     def leaveEvent(self, event):