diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@
     , m_composeAtSwapCompletion(false)
 {
     connect(options, &Options::configChanged, this, &Compositor::configChanged);
+    connect(options, &Options::animationSpeedChanged, this, &Compositor::reinitialize);
 
     m_monotonicClock.start();
 
diff --git a/kwin.kcfg b/kwin.kcfg
--- a/kwin.kcfg
+++ b/kwin.kcfg
@@ -248,11 +248,6 @@
             <min>4</min>
             <max>6</max>
         </entry>
-        <entry name="AnimationSpeed" type="Int">
-            <default>3</default>
-            <min>0</min>
-            <max>6</max>
-        </entry>
         <entry name="GLPlatformInterface" type="String">
             <default>glx</default>
         </entry>
@@ -301,4 +296,10 @@
             <default>thumbnails</default>
         </entry>
     </group>
+    <group name="KDE">
+        <entry name="AnimationDurationFactor" type="Double">
+            <default>1</default>
+            <min>0</min>
+        </entry>
+    </group>
 </kcfg>
diff --git a/options.h b/options.h
--- a/options.h
+++ b/options.h
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 #include "main.h"
 #include "placement.h"
 
+#include <KConfigWatcher>
+
 namespace KWin
 {
 
@@ -765,9 +767,6 @@
     static OpenGLPlatformInterface defaultGlPlatformInterface() {
         return kwinApp()->shouldUseWaylandForCompositing() ? EglPlatformInterface : GlxPlatformInterface;
     };
-    static int defaultAnimationSpeed() {
-        return 3;
-    }
 
     /**
      * Performs loading all settings except compositing related.
@@ -844,13 +843,16 @@
     void glPreferBufferSwapChanged();
     void glPlatformInterfaceChanged();
     void windowsBlockCompositingChanged();
+    void animationSpeedChanged();
 
     void configChanged();
 
 private:
     void setElectricBorders(int borders);
     void syncFromKcfgc();
     QScopedPointer<Settings> m_settings;
+    KConfigWatcher::Ptr m_configWatcher;
+
     FocusPolicy m_focusPolicy;
     bool m_nextFocusPrefersMouse;
     bool m_clickRaise;
@@ -918,7 +920,6 @@
     bool borderless_maximized_windows;
     bool show_geometry_tip;
     bool condensed_title;
-    int animationSpeed; // 0 - instant, 5 - very slow
 
     QHash<Qt::KeyboardModifier, QStringList> m_modifierOnlyShortcuts;
 
diff --git a/options.cpp b/options.cpp
--- a/options.cpp
+++ b/options.cpp
@@ -146,10 +146,16 @@
     , borderless_maximized_windows(false)
     , show_geometry_tip(false)
     , condensed_title(false)
-    , animationSpeed(Options::defaultAnimationSpeed())
 {
     m_settings->setDefaults();
     syncFromKcfgc();
+
+    m_configWatcher = KConfigWatcher::create(m_settings->sharedConfig());
+    connect(m_configWatcher.data(), &KConfigWatcher::configChanged, this, [this](const KConfigGroup &group, const QByteArrayList &names) {
+        if (group.name() == QLatin1String("KDE") && names.contains(QByteArrayLiteral("AnimationDurationFactor"))) {
+            emit animationSpeedChanged();
+        }
+    });
 }
 
 Options::~Options()
@@ -966,9 +972,6 @@
         previews = HiddenPreviewsAlways;
     setHiddenPreviews(previews);
 
-    // TOOD: add setter
-    animationSpeed = qBound(0, config.readEntry("AnimationSpeed", Options::defaultAnimationSpeed()), 6);
-
     auto interfaceToKey = [](OpenGLPlatformInterface interface) {
         switch (interface) {
         case GlxPlatformInterface:
@@ -1099,8 +1102,11 @@
 
 double Options::animationTimeFactor() const
 {
-    const double factors[] = { 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 20 };
-    return factors[ animationSpeed ];
+ #ifndef KCMRULES
+    return m_settings->animationDurationFactor();
+#else
+    return 0;
+#endif
 }
 
 Options::WindowOperation Options::operationMaxButtonClick(Qt::MouseButtons button) const