diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index a114eb88949d..f92c5f86f3df 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -349,6 +349,15 @@ def _get_key(self, event):
             # key, rather than unicode
             key = SPECIAL_KEYS[event_key]
         except KeyError:
+            # unicode defines code points up to 0x0010ffff
+            # QT will use Key_Codes larger than that for keyboard keys that are
+            # are not unicode characters (like multimedia keys)
+            # skip these
+            # if you really want them, you should add them to SPECIAL_KEYS
+            MAX_UNICODE = 0x10ffff
+            if event_key > MAX_UNICODE:
+                return None
+
             key = unichr(event_key)
             # qt delivers capitalized letters.  fix capitalization
             # note that capslock is ignored
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt4.py
index 2f29a35eb6d5..465c8f14142b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_qt4.py
@@ -149,3 +149,11 @@ def test_backspace_mod():
     assert_correct_key(QtCore.Qt.Key_Backspace,
                        ControlModifier,
                        u'ctrl+backspace')
+
+
+@cleanup
+@knownfailureif(not HAS_QT)
+def test_non_unicode_key():
+    assert_correct_key(QtCore.Qt.Key_Play,
+                       QtCore.Qt.NoModifier,
+                       None)