diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index ddd99b01f776..df6431593e3a 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@
 import io
 import locale
 import os
+import __main__ as main
 import re
 import tempfile
 import warnings
@@ -1352,7 +1353,10 @@ def interactive(b):
 
 def is_interactive():
     'Return true if plot mode is interactive'
-    return rcParams['interactive']
+    ret = rcParams['interactive']
+    if ret is None:
+        ret = not hasattr(main, '__file__')
+    return ret
 
 
 def tk_window_focus():
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
index d3b3c88607d4..a31bb88bc61f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ def __call__(self, s):
     'toolbar':           ['toolbar2', validate_toolbar],
     'datapath':          [None, validate_path_exists],  # handled by
                                                         # _get_data_path_cached
-    'interactive':       [False, validate_bool],
+    'interactive':       [None, validate_bool_maybe_none],
     'timezone':          ['UTC', six.text_type],
 
     # the verbosity setting