diff --git a/traits/etsconfig/etsconfig.py b/traits/etsconfig/etsconfig.py
index 02f478277..df011844a 100644
--- a/traits/etsconfig/etsconfig.py
+++ b/traits/etsconfig/etsconfig.py
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ def _get_kiva_backend(self):
                     self._kiva_backend = (
                         "quartz" if sys.platform == "darwin" else "image"
                     )
-                elif self.toolkit == "qt4":
+                elif self.toolkit in ["qt4", "qt"]:
                     self._kiva_backend = "image"
                 else:
                     self._kiva_backend = "image"
diff --git a/traits/etsconfig/tests/test_etsconfig.py b/traits/etsconfig/tests/test_etsconfig.py
index fe9e98667..50a5b5de6 100644
--- a/traits/etsconfig/tests/test_etsconfig.py
+++ b/traits/etsconfig/tests/test_etsconfig.py
@@ -221,6 +221,10 @@ def test_toolkit_default_kiva_backend(self):
         self.ETSConfig.toolkit = "qt4"
         self.assertEqual(self.ETSConfig.kiva_backend, "image")
 
+    def test_default_backend_for_qt5_toolkit(self):
+        self.ETSConfig.toolkit = "qt"
+        self.assertEqual(self.ETSConfig.kiva_backend, "image")
+
     def test_toolkit_explicit_kiva_backend(self):
         self.ETSConfig.toolkit = "wx.celiagg"
         self.assertEqual(self.ETSConfig.kiva_backend, "celiagg")