diff --git a/doc/source/changes/version_0_34_2.rst.inc b/doc/source/changes/version_0_34_2.rst.inc
index 22bc959..3575512 100644
--- a/doc/source/changes/version_0_34_2.rst.inc
+++ b/doc/source/changes/version_0_34_2.rst.inc
@@ -5,4 +5,7 @@ Fixes
 
 * fixed the viewer being unusable after showing a matplotlib plot (closes :editor_issue:`261`).
 
-* silence spurious debugger warning on Python 3.11 (closes :editor_issue:`263`).
\ No newline at end of file
+* silence spurious debugger warning on Python 3.11 (closes :editor_issue:`263`).
+
+* when code in the interactive console creates *and shows* a plot window, avoid showing it
+  a second time (closes :editor_issue:`265`).
diff --git a/larray_editor/tests/test_api_larray.py b/larray_editor/tests/test_api_larray.py
index 17e8ad1..a88f308 100644
--- a/larray_editor/tests/test_api_larray.py
+++ b/larray_editor/tests/test_api_larray.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def make_demo(width=20, ball_radius=5, path_radius=5, steps=30):
     return la.maximum(ball_radius - la.sqrt((x - ball_center_x) ** 2 + (y - ball_center_y) ** 2), 0).transpose(x, y)
 
 
-def test_matplotlib_show_interaction():
+def test_edit_after_matplotlib_show():
     import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
     arr = la.ndtest((3, 4))
@@ -109,6 +109,17 @@ def test_matplotlib_show_interaction():
     edit()
 
 
+# this needs to be called in the interactive console and should open a single plot window,
+# not two (see issue #265)
+def test_plot_returning_ax_and_using_show():
+    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+
+    arr = la.ndtest(4)
+    ax = arr.plot()
+    plt.show()
+    return ax
+
+
 demo = make_demo(9, 2.5, 1.5)
 sphere = make_sphere(9, 4)
 extreme_array = la.Array([-la.inf, -1, 0, la.nan, 1, la.inf])
@@ -218,4 +229,4 @@ def test_run_editor_on_exception(local_arr):
 
 # test_run_editor_on_exception(arr2)
 
-test_matplotlib_show_interaction()
+test_edit_after_matplotlib_show()
diff --git a/larray_editor/utils.py b/larray_editor/utils.py
index 641e905..fc873b1 100644
--- a/larray_editor/utils.py
+++ b/larray_editor/utils.py
@@ -298,11 +298,17 @@ def __init__(self, canvas, parent=None):
 
 
 def show_figure(parent, figure, title=None):
-    canvas = FigureCanvas(figure)
-    main = PlotDialog(canvas, parent)
+    if (figure.canvas is not None and figure.canvas.manager is not None and
+            figure.canvas.manager.window is not None):
+        figure.canvas.draw()
+        window = figure.canvas.manager.window
+        window.raise_()
+    else:
+        canvas = FigureCanvas(figure)
+        window = PlotDialog(canvas, parent)
     if title is not None:
-        main.setWindowTitle(title)
-    main.show()
+        window.setWindowTitle(title)
+    window.show()
 
 
 class Axis: