diff --git a/core/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/user/Preferences.java b/core/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/user/Preferences.java
index 472bf12ca3..131a84f02b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/user/Preferences.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/user/Preferences.java
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ public final class Preferences implements Persistable {
         return defaultTradeCurrency;
     }
 
+    private static boolean _useAnimations = true;
+
     transient private final Storage<Preferences> storage;
     transient private final BitsquareEnvironment bitsquareEnvironment;
 
@@ -184,6 +186,7 @@ public final class Preferences implements Persistable {
         });
         useAnimationsProperty.addListener((ov) -> {
             useAnimations = useAnimationsProperty.get();
+            _useAnimations = useAnimations;
             storage.queueUpForSave(2000);
         });
         fiatCurrenciesAsObservable.addListener((Observable ov) -> {
@@ -351,6 +354,10 @@ public final class Preferences implements Persistable {
         return useAnimationsProperty.get();
     }
 
+    public static boolean useAnimations() {
+        return _useAnimations;
+    }
+
     public StringProperty btcDenominationProperty() {
         return btcDenominationProperty;
     }
diff --git a/gui/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/gui/main/overlays/Overlay.java b/gui/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/gui/main/overlays/Overlay.java
index 5be9e70bc7..f9e4f423d8 100644
--- a/gui/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/gui/main/overlays/Overlay.java
+++ b/gui/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/gui/main/overlays/Overlay.java
@@ -740,11 +740,8 @@ public abstract class Overlay<T extends Overlay> {
             truncatedMessage = message;
     }
 
-    private int getDuration(int duration) {
-        if (preferences != null)
-            return preferences.getUseAnimations() ? duration : 1;
-        else
-            return duration;
+    protected int getDuration(int duration) {
+        return Preferences.useAnimations() ? duration : 1;
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/gui/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/gui/main/overlays/notifications/Notification.java b/gui/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/gui/main/overlays/notifications/Notification.java
index 08ce1b6b7e..95d9a1d3ad 100644
--- a/gui/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/gui/main/overlays/notifications/Notification.java
+++ b/gui/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/gui/main/overlays/notifications/Notification.java
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public class Notification extends Overlay<Notification> {
         }
 
         if (NotificationCenter.useAnimations) {
-            double duration = 400;
+            double duration = getDuration(400);
             Interpolator interpolator = Interpolator.SPLINE(0.25, 0.1, 0.25, 1);
 
             gridPane.setRotationAxis(Rotate.X_AXIS);
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ public class Notification extends Overlay<Notification> {
     protected void animateDisplay() {
         if (NotificationCenter.useAnimations) {
             double startX = 320;
-            double duration = 600;
+            double duration = getDuration(600);
             Interpolator interpolator = Interpolator.SPLINE(0.25, 0.1, 0.25, 1);
 
             Timeline timeline = new Timeline();
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ public class Notification extends Overlay<Notification> {
         }
     }
 
+
     @Override
     protected void createGridPane() {
         super.createGridPane();