diff --git a/mne/viz/_mpl_figure.py b/mne/viz/_mpl_figure.py
index 2e552bd4012..2f6c64b5a2c 100644
--- a/mne/viz/_mpl_figure.py
+++ b/mne/viz/_mpl_figure.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ def _inch_to_rel(self, dim_inches, horiz=True):
 class MNEAnnotationFigure(MNEFigure):
     """Interactive dialog figure for annotations."""
 
-    def _close(self, event):
+    def _close(self, event=None):
         """Handle close events (via keypress or window [x])."""
         parent = self.mne.parent_fig
         # disable span selector
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ def _set_active_button(self, idx, *, draw=True):
 class MNESelectionFigure(MNEFigure):
     """Interactive dialog figure for channel selections."""
 
-    def _close(self, event):
+    def _close(self, event=None):
         """Handle close events."""
         self.mne.parent_fig.mne.child_figs.remove(self)
         self.mne.fig_selection = None