diff --git a/shell/dock/AppletDock.qml b/shell/dock/AppletDock.qml
index e445059..5167c50 100644
--- a/shell/dock/AppletDock.qml
+++ b/shell/dock/AppletDock.qml
@@ -14,9 +14,11 @@ PanelWindow {
 
     required property var screen
 
-    visible: S.DockState.open
+    visible: _winVisible
     color: "transparent"
 
+    property bool _winVisible: false
+
     WlrLayershell.layer: S.DockState.mode === "pinned" ? WlrLayer.Top : WlrLayer.Overlay
     WlrLayershell.exclusiveZone: S.DockState.mode === "pinned" ? _dockWidth : 0
     WlrLayershell.namespace: "nova-dock"
@@ -47,17 +49,51 @@ PanelWindow {
         }
     }
 
-    // Slide animation
-    property real _slideX: S.DockState.open ? 0 : _dockWidth
+    // Slide animation - managed manually so window stays visible during hide
+    property real _slideX: _dockWidth
 
-    Behavior on _slideX {
-        enabled: !S.Theme.reducedMotion
-        NumberAnimation {
-            duration: 200
-            easing.type: Easing.OutCubic
+    Connections {
+        target: S.DockState
+        function onOpenChanged() {
+            if (S.DockState.open) {
+                root._winVisible = true;
+                _hideAnim.stop();
+                if (S.Theme.reducedMotion) {
+                    root._slideX = 0;
+                } else {
+                    _showAnim.start();
+                }
+            } else {
+                _showAnim.stop();
+                if (S.Theme.reducedMotion) {
+                    root._slideX = root._dockWidth;
+                    root._winVisible = false;
+                } else {
+                    _hideAnim.start();
+                }
+            }
         }
     }
 
+    NumberAnimation {
+        id: _showAnim
+        target: root
+        property: "_slideX"
+        to: 0
+        duration: 200
+        easing.type: Easing.OutCubic
+    }
+
+    NumberAnimation {
+        id: _hideAnim
+        target: root
+        property: "_slideX"
+        to: root._dockWidth
+        duration: 200
+        easing.type: Easing.InCubic
+        onFinished: root._winVisible = false
+    }
+
     // Overlay mode: close when cursor leaves
     HoverHandler {
         id: _dockHover