diff --git a/src/animation/client.h b/src/animation/client.h
index c098a7a..09d1416 100644
--- a/src/animation/client.h
+++ b/src/animation/client.h
@@ -1023,6 +1023,12 @@ bool client_draw_fadeout_frame(Client *c) {
 
 void client_set_focused_opacity_animation(Client *c) {
 	float *border_color = get_border_color(c);
+
+	if (!animations) {
+		setborder_color(c);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	c->opacity_animation.duration = animation_duration_focus;
 	memcpy(c->opacity_animation.target_border_color, border_color,
 		   sizeof(c->opacity_animation.target_border_color));
@@ -1048,6 +1054,12 @@ void client_set_focused_opacity_animation(Client *c) {
 void cleint_set_unfocused_opacity_animation(Client *c) {
 	// Start border color animation to unfocused
 	float *border_color = get_border_color(c);
+
+	if (!animations) {
+		setborder_color(c);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	c->opacity_animation.duration = animation_duration_focus;
 	memcpy(c->opacity_animation.target_border_color, border_color,
 		   sizeof(c->opacity_animation.target_border_color));