diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index cc94e530133b..c2070d890ef6 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@
 from matplotlib.rcsetup import cycler  # noqa: F401
 from matplotlib.rcsetup import validate_backend
 
+_mplbackend = os.environ.get('MPLBACKEND')
+
 
 _log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
index 2376c6243929..b4f703af7c36 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
 from matplotlib.colors import _color_sequences, Colormap
 
 import numpy as np
+import matplotlib.backends
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Callable, Hashable, Iterable, Sequence
@@ -617,7 +618,7 @@ def isinteractive() -> bool:
     show : Show all figures (and maybe block).
     pause : Show all figures, and block for a time.
     """
-    return matplotlib.is_interactive()
+    return rcParams['interactive']
 
 
 # Note: The return type of ioff being AbstractContextManager