diff --git a/ipykernel/zmqshell.py b/ipykernel/zmqshell.py
index 14b6feaed..1c1536d50 100644
--- a/ipykernel/zmqshell.py
+++ b/ipykernel/zmqshell.py
@@ -624,7 +624,10 @@ def init_magics(self):
     def enable_matplotlib(self, gui=None):
         gui, backend = super(ZMQInteractiveShell, self).enable_matplotlib(gui)
 
-        from ipykernel.pylab.backend_inline import configure_inline_support
+        try:
+            from matplotlib_inline.backend_inline import configure_inline_support
+        except ImportError:
+            from ipykernel.pylab.backend_inline import configure_inline_support
 
         configure_inline_support(self, backend)