diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index 726a2ada8425..66bc9bfc99d3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -179,6 +179,8 @@ def start_main_loop(cls):
             _macosx.show()
 
     def show(self):
+        if self.canvas.figure.stale:
+            self.canvas.draw_idle()
         if not self._shown:
             self._show()
             self._shown = True