diff --git a/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py b/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
index 7fb01c8e..a9754a72 100644
--- a/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
+++ b/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@ def imshow(im, *args, **kwargs):
     kwargs.setdefault('vmin', lo)
     kwargs.setdefault('vmax', hi)
     ax_im = plt.imshow(im, *args, **kwargs)
-    plt.colorbar()
+    if cmap != _default_colormap:
+        plt.colorbar()
     return ax_im
 
 imread = plt.imread