diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index e94c0ddaf255..d280f7fc1bc9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ def draw_idle(self):
         # accumulate multiple draw requests from event handling.
         # TODO: queued signal connection might be safer than singleShot
         if not (getattr(self, '_draw_pending', False) or
-                getattr(self, '._is_drawing', False)):
+                getattr(self, '_is_drawing', False)):
             self._draw_pending = True
             QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(0, self._draw_idle)