diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt.py
index 551ac515def1..b7fb708bee45 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt.py
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ def platform_simulate_ctrl_c(request):
     from functools import partial
 
     if hasattr(signal, "CTRL_C_EVENT"):
-        from win32api import GenerateConsoleCtrlEvent
-        return partial(GenerateConsoleCtrlEvent, 0, 0)
+        win32api = pytest.importorskip('win32api')
+        return partial(win32api.GenerateConsoleCtrlEvent, 0, 0)
     else:
         # we're not on windows
         return partial(os.kill, os.getpid(), signal.SIGINT)
diff --git a/requirements/testing/extra.txt b/requirements/testing/extra.txt
index 611dce4cdfd8..4582783c743d 100644
--- a/requirements/testing/extra.txt
+++ b/requirements/testing/extra.txt
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ nbformat!=5.0.0,!=5.0.1
 pandas!=0.25.0
 pikepdf
 pytz
+pywin32; sys.platform == 'win32'