diff --git a/src/plugins/splash/fade-throbber/plugin.c b/src/plugins/splash/fade-throbber/plugin.c
index d2d9045a..bde42c1d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/splash/fade-throbber/plugin.c
+++ b/src/plugins/splash/fade-throbber/plugin.c
@@ -567,9 +567,6 @@ start_animation (ply_boot_splash_plugin_t *plugin)
   if (plugin->is_animating)
      return;
 
-  plugin->start_time = ply_get_timestamp ();
-  animate_at_time (plugin, plugin->start_time);
-  
   node = ply_list_get_first_node (plugin->views);
   while (node != NULL)
     {
@@ -586,6 +583,9 @@ start_animation (ply_boot_splash_plugin_t *plugin)
 
   plugin->is_animating = true;
   
+  plugin->start_time = ply_get_timestamp ();
+  animate_at_time (plugin, plugin->start_time);
+  
   if (plugin->mode == PLY_BOOT_SPLASH_MODE_SHUTDOWN)
     return;