diff --git a/app/tools/gimpmeasuretool.c b/app/tools/gimpmeasuretool.c
index d874126a97..6d360c0f6f 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpmeasuretool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpmeasuretool.c
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ gimp_measure_tool_init (GimpMeasureTool *measure_tool)
 
   measure_tool->function = CREATING;
   measure_tool->status_help = TRUE;
+
+  GIMP_DRAW_TOOL (tool)->use_cairo = TRUE;
 }
 
 static void