diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
index c7c805972764..4135c8bc8c07 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
@@ -376,8 +376,10 @@ def draw(self):
 
     def draw_idle(self):
         def idle_draw(*args):
-            self.draw()
-            self._idle_draw_id = 0
+            try:
+                self.draw()
+            finally:
+                self._idle_draw_id = 0
             return False
         if self._idle_draw_id == 0:
             self._idle_draw_id = gobject.idle_add(idle_draw)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index e915c29111e6..511f9b345cc3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -322,8 +322,10 @@ def draw(self):
 
     def draw_idle(self):
         def idle_draw(*args):
-            self.draw()
-            self._idle_draw_id = 0
+            try:
+                self.draw()
+            finally:
+                self._idle_draw_id = 0
             return False
         if self._idle_draw_id == 0:
             self._idle_draw_id = GObject.idle_add(idle_draw)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index 37092888bf57..3bbd2311a667 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -415,8 +415,10 @@ def draw_idle(self):
         self._idle = False
 
         def idle_draw(*args):
-            self.draw()
-            self._idle = True
+            try:
+                self.draw()
+            finally:
+                self._idle = True
         if d:
             QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(0, idle_draw)
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
index 209a8520d044..c3bc260d547b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
@@ -362,8 +362,10 @@ def draw_idle(self):
         d = self._idle
         self._idle = False
         def idle_draw(*args):
-            self.draw()
-            self._idle = True
+            try:
+                self.draw()
+            finally:
+                self._idle = True
 
         if d:
             self._idle_callback = self._tkcanvas.after_idle(idle_draw)