diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
index 2170c93f77c3..ef655853b492 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
@@ -620,6 +620,16 @@ def save_figure(self, *args):
         except Exception as e:
             tkinter.messagebox.showerror("Error saving file", str(e))
 
+    def set_history_buttons(self):
+        if self._nav_stack._pos > 0:
+            self._buttons['Back']['state'] = tk.NORMAL
+        else:
+            self._buttons['Back']['state'] = tk.DISABLED
+        if self._nav_stack._pos < len(self._nav_stack._elements) - 1:
+            self._buttons['Forward']['state'] = tk.NORMAL
+        else:
+            self._buttons['Forward']['state'] = tk.DISABLED
+
 
 class ToolTip:
     """