diff --git a/skimage/io/_plugins/plugin.py b/skimage/io/_plugins/plugin.py
index 1d6bef52..f4c772ed 100644
--- a/skimage/io/_plugins/plugin.py
+++ b/skimage/io/_plugins/plugin.py
@@ -118,7 +118,11 @@ def use(name, kind=None):
         if not kind in plugin_provides[name]:
             raise RuntimeError("Plugin %s does not support `%s`." % \
                                (name, kind))
-        kind = [kind]
+
+        if kind == 'imshow':
+            kind = [kind, '_app_show']
+        else:
+            kind = [kind]
 
     if not name in available(loaded=True):
         _load(name)