diff --git a/player/lua/osc.lua b/player/lua/osc.lua
index 4d37d766d3..19f4e9b8c4 100644
--- a/player/lua/osc.lua
+++ b/player/lua/osc.lua
@@ -2609,7 +2609,17 @@ function tick()
     state.tick_last_time = mp.get_time()
 
     if state.anitype ~= nil then
-        request_tick()
+        -- state.anistart can be nil - animation should now start, or it can
+        -- be a timestamp when it started. state.idle has no animation.
+        if not state.idle and
+           (not state.anistart or
+            mp.get_time() < 1 + state.anistart + user_opts.fadeduration/1000)
+        then
+            -- animating or starting, or still within 1s past the deadline
+            request_tick()
+        else
+            kill_animation()
+        end
     end
 end