diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
index af6fe7babc50..20b918407047 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
@@ -344,8 +344,12 @@ def __init__(self,
     # use it, for some reason.
 
     def _repr_html_(self):
-        from matplotlib.backends import backend_webagg
-        return backend_webagg.ipython_inline_display(self)
+        # We can't use "isinstance" here, because then we'd end up importing
+        # webagg unconditiionally.
+        if (self.canvas is not None and
+            'WebAgg' in self.canvas.__class__.__name__):
+            from matplotlib.backends import backend_webagg
+            return backend_webagg.ipython_inline_display(self)
 
     def show(self, warn=True):
         """