diff --git a/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py b/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
index ece44d93..ec36ce04 100644
--- a/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
+++ b/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
 
 def imshow(*args, **kwargs):
+    if plt.gca().has_data():
+        plt.figure()
     kwargs.setdefault('interpolation', 'nearest')
     kwargs.setdefault('cmap', 'gray')
     plt.imshow(*args, **kwargs)