diff --git a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/qt_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/qt_plugin.py
index 6d931408..64379982 100644
--- a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/qt_plugin.py
+++ b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/qt_plugin.py
@@ -107,11 +107,17 @@ def imread_qt(filename, as_grey=False):
     else:
         img = img.reshape((qtimg.height(), pixelsPerLine))
         img = img[:, :qtimg.width()]
+    # Strip alpha channel if needed
+    if bytesPerPixel == 4 and not qtimg.hasAlphaChannel():
+        img = img[:, :, 0:3]
     if as_grey and bytesPerPixel > 1:
         # Stolen from fits_plugin
-        # these are the values that wikipedia says are typical
-        transform = numpy.array([ 0.30,  0.59,  0.11])
-        return numpy.dot(img, transform)
+        if img.shape[2] == 4:
+            # these are the values that wikipedia says are typical
+            transform = np.array([ 0.30,  0.59,  0.11, 0])
+        else:
+            transform = np.array([ 0.30,  0.59,  0.11])
+        return np.dot(img, transform).astype('uint8')
     return img
 
 if sip.SIP_VERSION >= 0x040c00: