diff --git a/applets/notifications/package/contents/ui/CompactRepresentation.qml b/applets/notifications/package/contents/ui/CompactRepresentation.qml
--- a/applets/notifications/package/contents/ui/CompactRepresentation.qml
+++ b/applets/notifications/package/contents/ui/CompactRepresentation.qml
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@
             }
         },
         State { // unread notifications
+            name: "UNREAD"
             when: compactRoot.unreadCount > 0
             PropertyChanges {
                 target: notificationIcon
@@ -176,6 +177,30 @@
                 duration: units.longDuration
                 easing.type: Easing.InOutQuad
             }
+        },
+        Transition {
+            from: ""
+            to: "UNREAD"
+            SequentialAnimation {
+                RotationAnimation {
+                    target: notificationIcon
+                    to: 30
+                    easing.type: Easing.InOutQuad
+                    duration: units.longDuration
+                }
+                RotationAnimation {
+                    target: notificationIcon
+                    to: -30
+                    easing.type: Easing.InOutQuad
+                    duration: units.longDuration * 2 // twice the swing distance, keep speed uniform
+                }
+                RotationAnimation {
+                    target: notificationIcon
+                    to: 0
+                    easing.type: Easing.InOutQuad
+                    duration: units.longDuration
+                }
+            }
         }
     ]