diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index a39f5b5b1497..726a2ada8425 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -64,13 +64,9 @@ def draw_idle(self):
 
     def _single_shot_timer(self, callback):
         """Add a single shot timer with the given callback"""
-        # We need to explicitly stop and remove the timer after
-        # firing, otherwise segfaults will occur when trying to deallocate
-        # the singleshot timers.
         def callback_func(callback, timer):
             callback()
             self._timers.remove(timer)
-            timer.stop()
         timer = self.new_timer(interval=0)
         timer.single_shot = True
         timer.add_callback(callback_func, callback, timer)
diff --git a/src/_macosx.m b/src/_macosx.m
index 3fac8b41f84e..eaf4f8292546 100755
--- a/src/_macosx.m
+++ b/src/_macosx.m
@@ -1741,6 +1741,11 @@ - (void)flagsChanged:(NSEvent *)event
                                          repeats: !single
                                            block: ^(NSTimer *timer) {
         gil_call_method((PyObject*)self, "_on_timer");
+        if (single) {
+            // A single-shot timer will be automatically invalidated when it fires, so
+            // we shouldn't do it ourselves when the object is deleted.
+            self->timer = NULL;
+        }
     }];
     // Schedule the timer on the main run loop which is needed
     // when updating the UI from a background thread