diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index 70db18067a7d..4700e28e48cc 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ def __init__(self, canvas, num):
 
     def close(self):
         Gcf.destroy(self)
+        self.canvas.flush_events()
 
 
 @_Backend.export