diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index c82e0f34850c..d0b59e5b7524 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -2813,15 +2813,14 @@ def mouse_move(self, event):
                 pass
             else:
                 artists = event.inaxes.hitlist(event)
-                if event.inaxes.patch in artists:
-                    artists.remove(event.inaxes.patch)
 
                 if artists:
-                    artists.sort(key=lambda x: x.zorder)
-                    a = artists[-1]
-                    data = a.get_cursor_data(event)
-                    if data is not None:
-                        s += ' [%s]' % a.format_cursor_data(data)
+                    a = max(enumerate(artists), key=lambda x: x[1].zorder)[1]
+                    if a is not event.inaxes.patch:
+                        data = a.get_cursor_data(event)
+                        if data is not None:
+                            s += ' [%s]' % a.format_cursor_data(data)
+
                 if len(self.mode):
                     self.set_message('%s, %s' % (self.mode, s))
                 else:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/transforms.py b/lib/matplotlib/transforms.py
index 75fda8c1d230..0df6ea4c4b12 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/transforms.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/transforms.py
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@
 from .path import Path
 
 DEBUG = False
-
+# we need this later, but this is very expensive to set up
+MINFLOAT = np.MachAr(float).xmin
 MaskedArray = ma.MaskedArray
 
 
@@ -2738,7 +2739,7 @@ def nonsingular(vmin, vmax, expander=0.001, tiny=1e-15, increasing=True):
         swapped = True
 
     maxabsvalue = max(abs(vmin), abs(vmax))
-    if maxabsvalue < (1e6 / tiny) * np.MachAr(float).xmin:
+    if maxabsvalue < (1e6 / tiny) * MINFLOAT:
         vmin = -expander
         vmax = expander