diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser/table/model.py b/qt/aqt/browser/table/model.py
index e1ff290a6..6d50d6174 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser/table/model.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser/table/model.py
@@ -309,13 +309,15 @@ class DataModel(QAbstractTableModel):
             return 0
         return self.len_columns()
 
+    _QFont = without_qt5_compat_wrapper(QFont)
+
     def data(self, index: QModelIndex = QModelIndex(), role: int = 0) -> Any:
         if not index.isValid():
             return QVariant()
         if role == Qt.ItemDataRole.FontRole:
             if not self.column_at(index).uses_cell_font:
                 return QVariant()
-            qfont = QFont()
+            qfont = self._QFont()
             row = self.get_row(index)
             qfont.setFamily(row.font_name)
             qfont.setPixelSize(row.font_size)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/qt/__init__.py b/qt/aqt/qt/__init__.py
index 631d12cf1..c60601fa8 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/qt/__init__.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/qt/__init__.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import os
 import sys
 import traceback
-from typing import Callable, Union
+from typing import Callable, TypeVar, Union
 
 try:
     import PyQt6
@@ -58,3 +58,16 @@ def qconnect(
 ) -> None:
     """Helper to work around type checking not working with signal.connect(func)."""
     signal.connect(func)  # type: ignore
+
+
+_T = TypeVar("_T")
+
+
+def without_qt5_compat_wrapper(cls: _T) -> _T:
+    """Remove Qt5 compat wrapper from Qt class, if active.
+
+    Only needed for a few Qt APIs that deal with QVariants."""
+    if fn := getattr(cls, "_without_compat_wrapper", None):
+        return fn()
+    else:
+        return cls
diff --git a/qt/aqt/qt/qt5_compat.py b/qt/aqt/qt/qt5_compat.py
index 98a054b1a..e549994b8 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/qt/qt5_compat.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/qt/qt5_compat.py
@@ -352,7 +352,9 @@ def _instrument_type(
     class QtClassProxy(
         type, metaclass=QtClassProxyType
     ):  # pylint: disable=invalid-metaclass
-        pass
+        @staticmethod
+        def _without_compat_wrapper():
+            return type
 
     setattr(module, type_name, QtClassProxy)