diff --git a/spyder/widgets/browser.py b/spyder/widgets/browser.py
index ddb00fe8821..5049e2e389c 100644
--- a/spyder/widgets/browser.py
+++ b/spyder/widgets/browser.py
@@ -367,9 +367,15 @@ def setHtml(self, html, baseUrl=QUrl()):
         else:
             super(WebView, self).setHtml(html, baseUrl)
 
-        # The event filter needs to be installed every time html is set
-        # because the proxy changes with new content.
-        self.focusProxy().installEventFilter(self)
+        # This is required to catch an error with PyQt 5.9, for which
+        # it seems this functionality is not working.
+        # Fixes spyder-ide/spyder#16703
+        try:
+            # The event filter needs to be installed every time html is set
+            # because the proxy changes with new content.
+            self.focusProxy().installEventFilter(self)
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
 
     def load(self, url):
         """