diff -ruN a/shell/panelview.cpp b/shell/panelview.cpp
--- a/shell/panelview.cpp	2026-04-08 06:33:10.000000000 -0300
+++ b/shell/panelview.cpp	2026-07-03 21:54:49.238018607 -0300
@@ -1364,6 +1364,37 @@
     }
 }
 
+void PanelView::setPanelAnimating(bool animating)
+{
+    if (!KX11Extras::compositingActive()) {
+        return;
+    }
+    auto *x11App = qGuiApp->nativeInterface<QNativeInterface::QX11Application>();
+    if (!x11App) {
+        return;
+    }
+    xcb_connection_t *connection = x11App->connection();
+    if (m_panelAnimatingAtom == XCB_ATOM_NONE) {
+        constexpr QByteArrayView atomName("_SONIC_WM_PANEL_ANIMATING");
+        xcb_intern_atom_cookie_t cookie = xcb_intern_atom_unchecked(connection, false, atomName.length(), atomName.constData());
+        xcb_intern_atom_reply_t *reply = xcb_intern_atom_reply(connection, cookie, nullptr);
+        if (reply) {
+            m_panelAnimatingAtom = reply->atom;
+            free(reply);
+        }
+    }
+    if (m_panelAnimatingAtom == XCB_ATOM_NONE) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if (animating) {
+        uint32_t value = 1;
+        xcb_change_property(connection, XCB_PROP_MODE_REPLACE, winId(), m_panelAnimatingAtom, XCB_ATOM_CARDINAL, 32, 1, &value);
+    } else {
+        xcb_delete_property(connection, winId(), m_panelAnimatingAtom);
+    }
+    xcb_flush(connection);
+}
+
 bool PanelView::canSetStrut() const
 {
     // read the wm name, need to do this every time which means a roundtrip unfortunately
@@ -1587,10 +1618,10 @@
                     return;
                 }
                 m_floatingness = get<double>(value);
-                positionAndResizePanel();
             });
             connect(&m_floatingnessAnimation, &QPropertyAnimation::finished, rootObject, [this]() {
-                updateMask();
+                setPanelAnimating(false);
+                positionAndResizePanel();
             });
             connect(rootObject, SIGNAL(minPanelHeightChanged()), this, SLOT(updatePadding()));
             connect(rootObject, SIGNAL(minPanelWidthChanged()), this, SLOT(updatePadding()));
@@ -1784,12 +1815,24 @@
     m_topFloatingPadding = rootObject()->property("fixedTopFloatingPadding").toInt();
     m_bottomFloatingPadding = rootObject()->property("fixedBottomFloatingPadding").toInt();
 
+    const bool instantAnimation = m_floatingnessAnimation.duration() == 0;
+    if (instantAnimation) {
+        // Skip the animation; jump straight to the target value.
+        m_floatingness = m_floatingnessAnimation.endValue().toDouble();
+        rootObject()->setProperty("floatingness", m_floatingness);
+    }
+
     positionAndResizePanel();
     updateExclusiveZone();
     updateShadows();
 
     // positionPanel and updateMask are called by m_floatingnessAnimation
     if (m_floatingnessAnimation.targetObject()) {
+        if (instantAnimation) {
+            updateMask();
+            return;
+        }
+        setPanelAnimating(true);
         m_floatingnessAnimation.start();
     }
 }
diff -ruN a/shell/panelview.h b/shell/panelview.h
--- a/shell/panelview.h	2026-04-08 06:33:10.000000000 -0300
+++ b/shell/panelview.h	2026-07-03 20:50:54.914625829 -0300
@@ -8,10 +8,13 @@
 
 #include <Plasma/Theme>
 #include <QPointer>
+#include <QAbstractAnimation>
 #include <QPropertyAnimation>
 #include <QTimer>
 #include <QWindow> // For WId
 
+#include <xcb/xcb.h>
+
 #include <KSvg/FrameSvg>
 #include <kwindoweffects.h>
 
@@ -307,6 +310,7 @@
     void handleQmlStatusChange(QQmlComponent::Status status);
     void updateMask();
     void updateEnabledBorders();
+    void setPanelAnimating(bool animating);
     void updatePadding();
     void updateFloating();
     void updateFloatingAnimationDuration();
@@ -363,6 +367,7 @@
     LengthMode m_lengthMode;
     Plasma::Theme m_theme;
     QTimer m_unhideTimer;
+    xcb_atom_t m_panelAnimatingAtom = XCB_ATOM_NONE;
     Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints m_backgroundHints;
     KSvg::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders m_enabledBorders = KSvg::FrameSvg::AllBorders;
     QPointer<QScreen> m_lastScreen;