diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index e0ef418f3199..5be7c2a311ac 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ def impl(args, regex, min_ver=None):
                 f"{' '.join(args)}, which output {output}")
 
     if name == "dvipng":
-        return impl(["dvipng", "-version"], "(?m)^dvipng .* (.+)", "1.6")
+        return impl(["dvipng", "-version"], "(?m)^dvipng(?: .*)? (.+)", "1.6")
     elif name == "gs":
         execs = (["gswin32c", "gswin64c", "mgs", "gs"]  # "mgs" for miktex.
                  if sys.platform == "win32" else