diff --git a/modules/NiriIpc.qml b/modules/NiriIpc.qml
index b959914..b64fbb3 100644
--- a/modules/NiriIpc.qml
+++ b/modules/NiriIpc.qml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ QtObject {
 
     property string focusedTitle: ""
     property string focusedAppId: ""
+    property bool overviewOpen: false
 
     property var _focusedProc: Process {
         running: true
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ QtObject {
                             root.focusedTitle = "";
                             root.focusedAppId = "";
                         }
+                    } else if (ev.OverviewOpenedOrClosed !== undefined) {
+                        root.overviewOpen = ev.OverviewOpenedOrClosed.is_open;
                     } else if (ev.WindowOpenedOrChanged !== undefined) {
                         root.windowOpenedOrChanged(ev.WindowOpenedOrChanged.window);
                         const w = ev.WindowOpenedOrChanged.window;
diff --git a/modules/OverviewBackdrop.qml b/modules/OverviewBackdrop.qml
index 05d098f..d3f421a 100644
--- a/modules/OverviewBackdrop.qml
+++ b/modules/OverviewBackdrop.qml
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ PanelWindow {
         property color uC1: M.Theme.base0E
         property color uC2: M.Theme.base09
 
-        // Wave animation: 6s sweep + 8s pause
+        // Wave animation: 6s sweep + 8s pause, only while overview is open
         SequentialAnimation on uWavePhase {
             loops: Animation.Infinite
-            running: true
+            running: M.NiriIpc.overviewOpen
             NumberAnimation {
                 from: -200
                 to: fx.width + 200