diff --git a/skimage/viewer/plugins/canny.py b/skimage/viewer/plugins/canny.py
index 278a7931..020157a4 100644
--- a/skimage/viewer/plugins/canny.py
+++ b/skimage/viewer/plugins/canny.py
@@ -21,7 +21,3 @@ class CannyPlugin(OverlayPlugin):
     def image_filter(self, *args, **kwargs):
         image = canny(*args, **kwargs)
         self.overlay = image
-
-    def closeEvent(self, event):
-        self.overlay = None
-        super(CannyPlugin, self).closeEvent(event)
diff --git a/skimage/viewer/plugins/overlayplugin.py b/skimage/viewer/plugins/overlayplugin.py
index a2b12630..b55d6587 100644
--- a/skimage/viewer/plugins/overlayplugin.py
+++ b/skimage/viewer/plugins/overlayplugin.py
@@ -35,3 +35,7 @@ class OverlayPlugin(Plugin):
         else:
             self._overlay_plot.set_array(image)
         self.image_viewer.redraw()
+
+    def closeEvent(self, event):
+        self.overlay = None
+        super(OverlayPlugin, self).closeEvent(event)