diff --git a/skimage/viewer/canvastools/base.py b/skimage/viewer/canvastools/base.py
index 288d12ea..8b631d38 100644
--- a/skimage/viewer/canvastools/base.py
+++ b/skimage/viewer/canvastools/base.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 try:
-    import matplotlib as mpl
     from matplotlib import lines
 except ImportError:
     print("Could not import matplotlib -- skimage.viewer not available.")
@@ -16,19 +15,17 @@ class CanvasToolBase(object):
     Parameters
     ----------
     """
-    def __init__(self, ax, useblit=None, on_update=None, on_enter=None):
+    def __init__(self, ax, useblit=True, on_update=None, on_enter=None):
         self.ax = ax
         self.canvas = ax.figure.canvas
         self.cids = []
         self._artists = []
         self.active = True
 
-        if useblit is None:
-            useblit = True if mpl.backends.backend.endswith('Agg') else False
-        self.useblit = useblit
         if useblit:
             self.canvas.draw()
             self.img_background = self.canvas.copy_from_bbox(self.ax.bbox)
+        self.useblit = useblit
 
         if on_update is None:
             on_update = lambda *args: None
diff --git a/skimage/viewer/plugins/base.py b/skimage/viewer/plugins/base.py
index 198bac6a..cc6352dc 100644
--- a/skimage/viewer/plugins/base.py
+++ b/skimage/viewer/plugins/base.py
@@ -9,11 +9,6 @@ except ImportError:
     QDialog = object # hack to prevent nosetest and autodoc errors
     print("Could not import PyQt4 -- skimage.viewer not available.")
 
-try:
-    import matplotlib as mpl
-except ImportError:
-    print("Could not import matplotlib -- skimage.viewer not available.")
-
 from ..utils import RequiredAttr, init_qtapp
 
 
@@ -81,7 +76,7 @@ class Plugin(QDialog):
     image_viewer = RequiredAttr("%s is not attached to ImageViewer" % name)
     draws_on_image = False
 
-    def __init__(self, image_filter=None, height=0, width=400, useblit=None):
+    def __init__(self, image_filter=None, height=0, width=400, useblit=True):
         init_qtapp()
         super(Plugin, self).__init__()
 
@@ -98,8 +93,6 @@ class Plugin(QDialog):
         self.arguments = []
         self.keyword_arguments= {}
 
-        if useblit is None:
-            useblit = True if mpl.backends.backend.endswith('Agg') else False
         self.useblit = useblit
         self.cids = []
         self.artists = []
diff --git a/skimage/viewer/plugins/lineprofile.py b/skimage/viewer/plugins/lineprofile.py
index 09aa5d7e..1f9e046e 100644
--- a/skimage/viewer/plugins/lineprofile.py
+++ b/skimage/viewer/plugins/lineprofile.py
@@ -103,7 +103,6 @@ class LineProfile(PlotPlugin):
 
     def line_changed(self, end_pts):
         x, y = np.transpose(end_pts)
-
         self.end_pts = end_pts
         scan = profile_line(self.image_viewer.original_image, end_pts,
                             linewidth=self.line_tool.linewidth)