diff --git a/containment.cpp b/containment.cpp
index 80c434859..66777e256 100644
--- a/containment.cpp
+++ b/containment.cpp
@@ -985,6 +985,10 @@ void Containment::addApplet(Applet *applet, const QPointF &pos, bool delayInit)
         Plasma::Animation *anim = Plasma::Animator::create(Plasma::Animator::AppearAnimation);
         if (anim) {
             connect(anim, SIGNAL(finished()), this, SLOT(appletAppearAnimationComplete()));
+            anim->setTargetWidget(applet);
+            //FIXME: small hack until we have proper js anim support; allows 'zoom' to work in the
+            //'right' direction for appearance
+            anim->setDirection(QAbstractAnimation::Backward);
             anim->start(QAbstractAnimation::DeleteWhenStopped);
         } else {
             d->appletAppeared(applet);