diff --git a/autotests/integration/effects/translucency_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/effects/translucency_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/effects/translucency_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/effects/translucency_test.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@
     config->sync();
     kwinApp()->setConfig(config);
 
+    qputenv("KWIN_EFFECTS_FORCE_ANIMATIONS", "1");
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
     QVERIFY(Compositor::self());
diff --git a/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h b/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
--- a/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
+++ b/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
@@ -229,5 +229,15 @@
     KWayland::Server::Display *waylandDisplay() const override {
         return nullptr;
     }
+
+    bool animationsSupported() const override {
+        return m_animationsSuported;
+    }
+    void setAnimationsSupported(bool set) {
+        m_animationsSuported = set;
+    }
+
+private:
+    bool m_animationsSuported = true;
 };
 #endif
diff --git a/autotests/test_builtin_effectloader.cpp b/autotests/test_builtin_effectloader.cpp
--- a/autotests/test_builtin_effectloader.cpp
+++ b/autotests/test_builtin_effectloader.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+bool ScriptedEffect::supported()
+{
+    return true;
+}
+
 }
 
 class TestBuiltInEffectLoader : public QObject
@@ -182,76 +187,87 @@
     QTest::addColumn<QString>("name");
     QTest::addColumn<bool>("expected");
     QTest::addColumn<KWin::CompositingType>("type");
+    QTest::addColumn<bool>("animationsSupported");
 
     const KWin::CompositingType xc = KWin::XRenderCompositing;
     const KWin::CompositingType oc = KWin::OpenGL2Compositing;
 
-    QTest::newRow("blur")                           << QStringLiteral("blur")              << false << xc;
+    QTest::newRow("blur")                           << QStringLiteral("blur")              << false << xc << true;
     // fails for GL as it does proper tests on what's supported and doesn't just check whether it's GL
-    QTest::newRow("blur-GL")                        << QStringLiteral("blur")              << false << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("Contrast")                       << QStringLiteral("contrast")          << false << xc;
+    QTest::newRow("blur-GL")                        << QStringLiteral("blur")              << false << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Contrast")                       << QStringLiteral("contrast")          << false << xc << true;
     // fails for GL as it does proper tests on what's supported and doesn't just check whether it's GL
-    QTest::newRow("Contrast-GL")                    << QStringLiteral("contrast")          << false << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("CoverSwitch")                    << QStringLiteral("coverswitch")       << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("CoverSwitch-GL")                 << QStringLiteral("coverswitch")       << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("Cube")                           << QStringLiteral("cube")              << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Cube-GL")                        << QStringLiteral("cube")              << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("CubeSlide")                      << QStringLiteral("cubeslide")         << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("CubeSlide-GL")                   << QStringLiteral("cubeslide")         << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("DesktopGrid")                    << QStringLiteral("desktopgrid")       << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("DimInactive")                    << QStringLiteral("diminactive")       << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("DimScreen")                      << QStringLiteral("dimscreen")         << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("FallApart")                      << QStringLiteral("fallapart")         << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("FallApart-GL")                   << QStringLiteral("fallapart")         << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("FlipSwitch")                     << QStringLiteral("flipswitch")        << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("FlipSwitch-GL")                  << QStringLiteral("flipswitch")        << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("Glide")                          << QStringLiteral("glide")             << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Glide-GL")                       << QStringLiteral("glide")             << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("HighlightWindow")                << QStringLiteral("highlightwindow")   << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Invert")                         << QStringLiteral("invert")            << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Invert-GL")                      << QStringLiteral("invert")            << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("Kscreen")                        << QStringLiteral("kscreen")           << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Logout")                         << QStringLiteral("logout")            << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("LookingGlass")                   << QStringLiteral("lookingglass")      << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("LookingGlass-GL")                << QStringLiteral("lookingglass")      << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("MagicLamp")                      << QStringLiteral("magiclamp")         << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("MagicLamp-GL")                   << QStringLiteral("magiclamp")         << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("Magnifier")                      << QStringLiteral("magnifier")         << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("MinimizeAnimation")              << QStringLiteral("minimizeanimation") << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("MouseClick")                     << QStringLiteral("mouseclick")        << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("MouseMark")                      << QStringLiteral("mousemark")         << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("PresentWindows")                 << QStringLiteral("presentwindows")    << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Resize")                         << QStringLiteral("resize")            << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("ScreenEdge")                     << QStringLiteral("screenedge")        << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("ScreenShot")                     << QStringLiteral("screenshot")        << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Sheet")                          << QStringLiteral("sheet")             << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Sheet-GL")                       << QStringLiteral("sheet")             << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("ShowFps")                        << QStringLiteral("showfps")           << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("ShowPaint")                      << QStringLiteral("showpaint")         << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Slide")                          << QStringLiteral("slide")             << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("SlideBack")                      << QStringLiteral("slideback")         << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("SlidingPopups")                  << QStringLiteral("slidingpopups")     << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("SnapHelper")                     << QStringLiteral("snaphelper")        << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("StartupFeedback")                << QStringLiteral("startupfeedback")   << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("StartupFeedback-GL")             << QStringLiteral("startupfeedback")   << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("ThumbnailAside")                 << QStringLiteral("thumbnailaside")    << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("TrackMouse")                     << QStringLiteral("trackmouse")        << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("WindowGeometry")                 << QStringLiteral("windowgeometry")    << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("WobblyWindows")                  << QStringLiteral("wobblywindows")     << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("WobblyWindows-GL")               << QStringLiteral("wobblywindows")     << true  << oc;
-    QTest::newRow("Zoom")                           << QStringLiteral("zoom")              << true  << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Non Existing")                   << QStringLiteral("InvalidName")       << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Fade - Scripted")                << QStringLiteral("fade")              << false << xc;
-    QTest::newRow("Fade - Scripted + kwin4_effect") << QStringLiteral("kwin4_effect_fade") << false << xc;
+    QTest::newRow("Contrast-GL")                    << QStringLiteral("contrast")          << false << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("CoverSwitch")                    << QStringLiteral("coverswitch")       << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("CoverSwitch-GL")                 << QStringLiteral("coverswitch")       << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("CoverSwitch-GL-no-anim")         << QStringLiteral("coverswitch")       << false << oc << false;
+    QTest::newRow("Cube")                           << QStringLiteral("cube")              << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Cube-GL")                        << QStringLiteral("cube")              << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("CubeSlide")                      << QStringLiteral("cubeslide")         << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("CubeSlide-GL")                   << QStringLiteral("cubeslide")         << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("CubeSlide-GL-no-anim")           << QStringLiteral("cubeslide")         << false << oc << false;
+    QTest::newRow("DesktopGrid")                    << QStringLiteral("desktopgrid")       << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("DimInactive")                    << QStringLiteral("diminactive")       << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("DimScreen")                      << QStringLiteral("dimscreen")         << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("FallApart")                      << QStringLiteral("fallapart")         << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("FallApart-GL")                   << QStringLiteral("fallapart")         << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("FlipSwitch")                     << QStringLiteral("flipswitch")        << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("FlipSwitch-GL")                  << QStringLiteral("flipswitch")        << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("FlipSwitch-GL-no-anim")          << QStringLiteral("flipswitch")        << false << oc << false;
+    QTest::newRow("Glide")                          << QStringLiteral("glide")             << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Glide-GL")                       << QStringLiteral("glide")             << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Glide-GL-no-anim")               << QStringLiteral("glide")             << false << oc << false;
+    QTest::newRow("HighlightWindow")                << QStringLiteral("highlightwindow")   << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Invert")                         << QStringLiteral("invert")            << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Invert-GL")                      << QStringLiteral("invert")            << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Kscreen")                        << QStringLiteral("kscreen")           << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Logout")                         << QStringLiteral("logout")            << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("LookingGlass")                   << QStringLiteral("lookingglass")      << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("LookingGlass-GL")                << QStringLiteral("lookingglass")      << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("MagicLamp")                      << QStringLiteral("magiclamp")         << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("MagicLamp-GL")                   << QStringLiteral("magiclamp")         << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("MagicLamp-GL-no-anim")           << QStringLiteral("magiclamp")         << false << oc << false;
+    QTest::newRow("Magnifier")                      << QStringLiteral("magnifier")         << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("MinimizeAnimation")              << QStringLiteral("minimizeanimation") << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("MouseClick")                     << QStringLiteral("mouseclick")        << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("MouseMark")                      << QStringLiteral("mousemark")         << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("PresentWindows")                 << QStringLiteral("presentwindows")    << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Resize")                         << QStringLiteral("resize")            << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("ScreenEdge")                     << QStringLiteral("screenedge")        << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("ScreenShot")                     << QStringLiteral("screenshot")        << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Sheet")                          << QStringLiteral("sheet")             << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Sheet-GL")                       << QStringLiteral("sheet")             << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Sheet-GL-no-anim")               << QStringLiteral("sheet")             << false << oc << false;
+    QTest::newRow("ShowFps")                        << QStringLiteral("showfps")           << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("ShowPaint")                      << QStringLiteral("showpaint")         << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Slide")                          << QStringLiteral("slide")             << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("SlideBack")                      << QStringLiteral("slideback")         << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("SlidingPopups")                  << QStringLiteral("slidingpopups")     << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("SnapHelper")                     << QStringLiteral("snaphelper")        << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("StartupFeedback")                << QStringLiteral("startupfeedback")   << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("StartupFeedback-GL")             << QStringLiteral("startupfeedback")   << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("ThumbnailAside")                 << QStringLiteral("thumbnailaside")    << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("TrackMouse")                     << QStringLiteral("trackmouse")        << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("WindowGeometry")                 << QStringLiteral("windowgeometry")    << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("WobblyWindows")                  << QStringLiteral("wobblywindows")     << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("WobblyWindows-GL")               << QStringLiteral("wobblywindows")     << true  << oc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("WobblyWindows-GL-no-anim")       << QStringLiteral("wobblywindows")     << false << oc << false;
+    QTest::newRow("Zoom")                           << QStringLiteral("zoom")              << true  << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Non Existing")                   << QStringLiteral("InvalidName")       << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Fade - Scripted")                << QStringLiteral("fade")              << false << xc << true;
+    QTest::newRow("Fade - Scripted + kwin4_effect") << QStringLiteral("kwin4_effect_fade") << false << xc << true;
 }
 
 void TestBuiltInEffectLoader::testSupported()
 {
     QFETCH(QString, name);
     QFETCH(bool, expected);
     QFETCH(KWin::CompositingType, type);
+    QFETCH(bool, animationsSupported);
 
     MockEffectsHandler mockHandler(type);
+    mockHandler.setAnimationsSupported(animationsSupported);
+    QCOMPARE(mockHandler.animationsSupported(), animationsSupported);
     KWin::BuiltInEffectLoader loader;
     QCOMPARE(loader.isEffectSupported(name), expected);
 }
diff --git a/autotests/test_plugin_effectloader.cpp b/autotests/test_plugin_effectloader.cpp
--- a/autotests/test_plugin_effectloader.cpp
+++ b/autotests/test_plugin_effectloader.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+bool ScriptedEffect::supported()
+{
+    return true;
+}
+
 }
 
 class TestPluginEffectLoader : public QObject
diff --git a/autotests/test_scripted_effectloader.cpp b/autotests/test_scripted_effectloader.cpp
--- a/autotests/test_scripted_effectloader.cpp
+++ b/autotests/test_scripted_effectloader.cpp
@@ -136,11 +136,17 @@
     QFETCH(QString, name);
     QFETCH(bool, expected);
 
+    MockEffectsHandler mockHandler(KWin::XRenderCompositing);
     KWin::ScriptedEffectLoader loader;
     QCOMPARE(loader.hasEffect(name), expected);
 
     // each available effect should also be supported
     QCOMPARE(loader.isEffectSupported(name), expected);
+
+    if (expected) {
+        mockHandler.setAnimationsSupported(false);
+        QVERIFY(!loader.isEffectSupported(name));
+    }
 }
 
 void TestScriptedEffectLoader::testKnownEffects()
diff --git a/effectloader.cpp b/effectloader.cpp
--- a/effectloader.cpp
+++ b/effectloader.cpp
@@ -205,6 +205,9 @@
 bool ScriptedEffectLoader::isEffectSupported(const QString &name) const
 {
     // scripted effects are in general supported
+    if (!ScriptedEffect::supported()) {
+        return false;
+    }
     return hasEffect(name);
 }
 
@@ -239,6 +242,11 @@
         return false;
     }
 
+    if (!ScriptedEffect::supported()) {
+        qCDebug(KWIN_CORE) << "Effect is not supported: " << name;
+        return false;
+    }
+
     ScriptedEffect *e = ScriptedEffect::create(effect);
     if (!e) {
         qCDebug(KWIN_CORE) << "Could not initialize scripted effect: " << name;
diff --git a/effects.h b/effects.h
--- a/effects.h
+++ b/effects.h
@@ -226,6 +226,8 @@
 
     KWayland::Server::Display *waylandDisplay() const override;
 
+    bool animationsSupported() const override;
+
     Scene *scene() const {
         return m_scene;
     }
diff --git a/effects.cpp b/effects.cpp
--- a/effects.cpp
+++ b/effects.cpp
@@ -1505,6 +1505,16 @@
     m_scene->doneOpenGLContextCurrent();
 }
 
+bool EffectsHandlerImpl::animationsSupported() const
+{
+    static const QByteArray forceEnvVar = qgetenv("KWIN_EFFECTS_FORCE_ANIMATIONS");
+    if (!forceEnvVar.isEmpty()) {
+        static const int forceValue = forceEnvVar.toInt();
+        return forceValue == 1;
+    }
+    return m_scene->animationsSupported();
+}
+
 //****************************************
 // EffectWindowImpl
 //****************************************
diff --git a/effects/coverswitch/coverswitch.cpp b/effects/coverswitch/coverswitch.cpp
--- a/effects/coverswitch/coverswitch.cpp
+++ b/effects/coverswitch/coverswitch.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 
 bool CoverSwitchEffect::supported()
 {
-    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing();
+    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing() && effects->animationsSupported();
 }
 
 void CoverSwitchEffect::reconfigure(ReconfigureFlags)
diff --git a/effects/cube/cubeslide.cpp b/effects/cube/cubeslide.cpp
--- a/effects/cube/cubeslide.cpp
+++ b/effects/cube/cubeslide.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 
 bool CubeSlideEffect::supported()
 {
-    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing();
+    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing() && effects->animationsSupported();
 }
 
 void CubeSlideEffect::reconfigure(ReconfigureFlags)
diff --git a/effects/fallapart/fallapart.cpp b/effects/fallapart/fallapart.cpp
--- a/effects/fallapart/fallapart.cpp
+++ b/effects/fallapart/fallapart.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 bool FallApartEffect::supported()
 {
-    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing();
+    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing() && effects->animationsSupported();
 }
 
 FallApartEffect::FallApartEffect()
diff --git a/effects/flipswitch/flipswitch.cpp b/effects/flipswitch/flipswitch.cpp
--- a/effects/flipswitch/flipswitch.cpp
+++ b/effects/flipswitch/flipswitch.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
 
 bool FlipSwitchEffect::supported()
 {
-    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing();
+    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing() && effects->animationsSupported();
 }
 
 void FlipSwitchEffect::reconfigure(ReconfigureFlags)
diff --git a/effects/glide/glide.cpp b/effects/glide/glide.cpp
--- a/effects/glide/glide.cpp
+++ b/effects/glide/glide.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 
 bool GlideEffect::supported()
 {
-    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing();
+    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing() && effects->animationsSupported();
 }
 
 void GlideEffect::reconfigure(ReconfigureFlags)
diff --git a/effects/magiclamp/magiclamp.cpp b/effects/magiclamp/magiclamp.cpp
--- a/effects/magiclamp/magiclamp.cpp
+++ b/effects/magiclamp/magiclamp.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
 bool MagicLampEffect::supported()
 {
-    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing();
+    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing() && effects->animationsSupported();
 }
 
 void MagicLampEffect::reconfigure(ReconfigureFlags)
diff --git a/effects/sheet/sheet.cpp b/effects/sheet/sheet.cpp
--- a/effects/sheet/sheet.cpp
+++ b/effects/sheet/sheet.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
 bool SheetEffect::supported()
 {
-    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing();
+    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing() && effects->animationsSupported();
 }
 
 void SheetEffect::reconfigure(ReconfigureFlags)
diff --git a/effects/wobblywindows/wobblywindows.cpp b/effects/wobblywindows/wobblywindows.cpp
--- a/effects/wobblywindows/wobblywindows.cpp
+++ b/effects/wobblywindows/wobblywindows.cpp
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@
 
 bool WobblyWindowsEffect::supported()
 {
-    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing();
+    return effects->isOpenGLCompositing() && effects->animationsSupported();
 }
 
 void WobblyWindowsEffect::setParameterSet(const ParameterSet& pset)
diff --git a/libkwineffects/CMakeLists.txt b/libkwineffects/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/libkwineffects/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libkwineffects/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
                   VARIABLE_PREFIX KWINEFFECTS
                   VERSION_HEADER "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/kwineffects_version.h"
                   PACKAGE_VERSION_FILE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/KWinEffectsConfigVersion.cmake"
-                  SOVERSION 8
+                  SOVERSION 9
 )
 
 ### xrenderutils lib ###
diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h b/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
--- a/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
@@ -1102,6 +1102,16 @@
     virtual KWayland::Server::Display *waylandDisplay() const = 0;
 
     /**
+     * Whether animations are supported by the Scene.
+     * If this method returns @c false Effects are supposed to not
+     * animate transitions.
+     *
+     * @returns Whether the Scene can drive animations
+     * @since 5.8
+     **/
+    virtual bool animationsSupported() const = 0;
+
+    /**
      * @return @ref KConfigGroup which holds given effect's config options
      **/
     static KConfigGroup effectConfig(const QString& effectname);
diff --git a/scene.h b/scene.h
--- a/scene.h
+++ b/scene.h
@@ -149,6 +149,14 @@
 
     virtual Decoration::Renderer *createDecorationRenderer(Decoration::DecoratedClientImpl *) = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * Whether the Scene is able to drive animations.
+     * This is used as a hint to the effects system which effects can be supported.
+     * If the Scene performs software rendering it is supposed to return @c false,
+     * if rendering is hardware accelerated it should return @c true.
+     **/
+    virtual bool animationsSupported() const = 0;
+
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void frameRendered();
 
diff --git a/scene_opengl.h b/scene_opengl.h
--- a/scene_opengl.h
+++ b/scene_opengl.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
     Decoration::Renderer *createDecorationRenderer(Decoration::DecoratedClientImpl *impl) override;
     virtual void triggerFence() override;
     virtual QMatrix4x4 projectionMatrix() const = 0;
+    bool animationsSupported() const override;
 
     void insertWait();
 
diff --git a/scene_opengl.cpp b/scene_opengl.cpp
--- a/scene_opengl.cpp
+++ b/scene_opengl.cpp
@@ -956,6 +956,11 @@
     return new SceneOpenGLDecorationRenderer(impl);
 }
 
+bool SceneOpenGL::animationsSupported() const
+{
+    return !GLPlatform::instance()->isSoftwareEmulation();
+}
+
 //****************************************
 // SceneOpenGL2
 //****************************************
diff --git a/scene_qpainter.h b/scene_qpainter.h
--- a/scene_qpainter.h
+++ b/scene_qpainter.h
@@ -119,6 +119,10 @@
     Decoration::Renderer *createDecorationRenderer(Decoration::DecoratedClientImpl *impl) override;
     void screenGeometryChanged(const QSize &size) override;
 
+    bool animationsSupported() const override {
+        return false;
+    }
+
     QPainter *painter();
 
     QPainterBackend *backend() const {
diff --git a/scene_xrender.h b/scene_xrender.h
--- a/scene_xrender.h
+++ b/scene_xrender.h
@@ -169,6 +169,10 @@
     }
     Decoration::Renderer *createDecorationRenderer(Decoration::DecoratedClientImpl *client);
 
+    bool animationsSupported() const override {
+        return true;
+    }
+
     static SceneXrender *createScene(QObject *parent);
 protected:
     virtual Scene::Window *createWindow(Toplevel *toplevel);
diff --git a/scripting/scriptedeffect.h b/scripting/scriptedeffect.h
--- a/scripting/scriptedeffect.h
+++ b/scripting/scriptedeffect.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
     void setActiveConfig(const QString &name);
     static ScriptedEffect *create(const QString &effectName, const QString &pathToScript, int chainPosition);
     static ScriptedEffect *create(const KPluginMetaData &effect);
+    static bool supported();
     virtual ~ScriptedEffect();
     /**
      * Whether another effect has grabbed the @p w with the given @p grabRole.
diff --git a/scripting/scriptedeffect.cpp b/scripting/scriptedeffect.cpp
--- a/scripting/scriptedeffect.cpp
+++ b/scripting/scriptedeffect.cpp
@@ -450,6 +450,11 @@
     return effect;
 }
 
+bool ScriptedEffect::supported()
+{
+    return effects->animationsSupported();
+}
+
 ScriptedEffect::ScriptedEffect()
     : AnimationEffect()
     , m_engine(new QScriptEngine(this))