diff --git a/scipy/fft/__init__.py b/scipy/fft/__init__.py
index 02013925d..f4065d971 100644
--- a/scipy/fft/__init__.py
+++ b/scipy/fft/__init__.py
@@ -112,6 +112,11 @@ class _FFTModule(sys.modules[__name__].__class__):
 
 
 import os
+
+# Set fft backend to use Intel(R) MKL_FFT
+import mkl_fft._scipy_fft_backend as mkl_be
+set_global_backend(mkl_be)
+
 if os.environ.get('_SCIPY_BUILDING_DOC') != 'True':
     sys.modules[__name__].__class__ = _FFTModule
 del os
