diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
index f439af2564e..7ebca484d7b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
@@ -300,14 +300,14 @@ def key_press_event(self, widget, event):
         key = self._get_key(event)
         if _debug: print("hit", key)
         FigureCanvasBase.key_press_event(self, key, guiEvent=event)
-        return False  # finish event propagation?
+        return True  # stop event propagation
 
     def key_release_event(self, widget, event):
         if _debug: print('FigureCanvasGTK.%s' % fn_name())
         key = self._get_key(event)
         if _debug: print("release", key)
         FigureCanvasBase.key_release_event(self, key, guiEvent=event)
-        return False  # finish event propagation?
+        return True  # stop event propagation
 
     def motion_notify_event(self, widget, event):
         if _debug: print('FigureCanvasGTK.%s' % fn_name())
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index 2c4099a50e0..8872e65427b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -251,14 +251,14 @@ def key_press_event(self, widget, event):
         key = self._get_key(event)
         if _debug: print("hit", key)
         FigureCanvasBase.key_press_event(self, key, guiEvent=event)
-        return False  # finish event propagation?
+        return True  # stop event propagation
 
     def key_release_event(self, widget, event):
         if _debug: print('FigureCanvasGTK3.%s' % fn_name())
         key = self._get_key(event)
         if _debug: print("release", key)
         FigureCanvasBase.key_release_event(self, key, guiEvent=event)
-        return False  # finish event propagation?
+        return True  # stop event propagation
 
     def motion_notify_event(self, widget, event):
         if _debug: print('FigureCanvasGTK3.%s' % fn_name())