diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
index 8493b4cb9772..68f61a6cc75e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
@@ -677,8 +677,14 @@ def _icon(self, name):
         Construct a `.QIcon` from an image file *name*, including the extension
         and relative to Matplotlib's "images" data directory.
         """
-        name = name.replace('.png', '_large.png')
-        pm = QtGui.QPixmap(str(cbook._get_data_path('images', name)))
+        # use a high-resolution icon with suffix '_large' if available
+        # note: user-provided icons may not have '_large' versions
+        path_regular = cbook._get_data_path('images', name)
+        path_large = path_regular.with_name(
+            path_regular.name.replace('.png', '_large.png'))
+        filename = str(path_large if path_large.exists() else path_regular)
+
+        pm = QtGui.QPixmap(filename)
         _setDevicePixelRatio(pm, _devicePixelRatioF(self))
         if self.palette().color(self.backgroundRole()).value() < 128:
             icon_color = self.palette().color(self.foregroundRole())