diff --git a/kdecoration/breezebutton.h b/kdecoration/breezebutton.h
--- a/kdecoration/breezebutton.h
+++ b/kdecoration/breezebutton.h
@@ -26,18 +26,16 @@
 
 #include <QHash>
 #include <QImage>
-#include <QPropertyAnimation>
+
+class QVariantAnimation;
 
 namespace Breeze
 {
 
     class Button : public KDecoration2::DecorationButton
     {
         Q_OBJECT
 
-        //* declare active state opacity
-        Q_PROPERTY( qreal opacity READ opacity WRITE setOpacity )
-
         public:
 
         //* constructor
@@ -123,7 +121,7 @@
         Flag m_flag = FlagNone;
 
         //* active state change animation
-        QPropertyAnimation *m_animation;
+        QVariantAnimation *m_animation;
 
         //* vertical offset (for rendering)
         QPointF m_offset;
diff --git a/kdecoration/breezebutton.cpp b/kdecoration/breezebutton.cpp
--- a/kdecoration/breezebutton.cpp
+++ b/kdecoration/breezebutton.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <KColorUtils>
 
 #include <QPainter>
+#include <QVariantAnimation>
 
 namespace Breeze
 {
@@ -36,15 +37,17 @@
     //__________________________________________________________________
     Button::Button(DecorationButtonType type, Decoration* decoration, QObject* parent)
         : DecorationButton(type, decoration, parent)
-        , m_animation( new QPropertyAnimation( this ) )
+        , m_animation( new QVariantAnimation( this ) )
     {
 
         // setup animation
-        m_animation->setStartValue( 0 );
+        // It is important start and end value are of the same type, hence 0.0 and not just 0
+        m_animation->setStartValue( 0.0 );
         m_animation->setEndValue( 1.0 );
-        m_animation->setTargetObject( this );
-        m_animation->setPropertyName( "opacity" );
         m_animation->setEasingCurve( QEasingCurve::InOutQuad );
+        connect(m_animation, &QVariantAnimation::valueChanged, this, [this](const QVariant &value) {
+            setOpacity(value.toReal());
+        });
 
         // setup default geometry
         const int height = decoration->buttonHeight();
@@ -375,7 +378,7 @@
 
             return d->titleBarColor();
 
-        } else if( m_animation->state() == QPropertyAnimation::Running ) {
+        } else if( m_animation->state() == QAbstractAnimation::Running ) {
 
             return KColorUtils::mix( d->fontColor(), d->titleBarColor(), m_opacity );
 
@@ -411,7 +414,7 @@
 
             return d->fontColor();
 
-        } else if( m_animation->state() == QPropertyAnimation::Running ) {
+        } else if( m_animation->state() == QAbstractAnimation::Running ) {
 
             if( type() == DecorationButtonType::Close )
             {
@@ -470,8 +473,8 @@
         auto d = qobject_cast<Decoration*>(decoration());
         if( !(d && d->internalSettings()->animationsEnabled() ) ) return;
 
-        m_animation->setDirection( hovered ? QPropertyAnimation::Forward : QPropertyAnimation::Backward );
-        if( m_animation->state() != QPropertyAnimation::Running ) m_animation->start();
+        m_animation->setDirection( hovered ? QAbstractAnimation::Forward : QAbstractAnimation::Backward );
+        if( m_animation->state() != QAbstractAnimation::Running ) m_animation->start();
 
     }
 
diff --git a/kdecoration/breezedecoration.h b/kdecoration/breezedecoration.h
--- a/kdecoration/breezedecoration.h
+++ b/kdecoration/breezedecoration.h
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@
 #include <KDecoration2/DecorationSettings>
 
 #include <QPalette>
-#include <QPropertyAnimation>
 #include <QVariant>
 
+class QVariantAnimation;
+
 namespace KDecoration2
 {
     class DecorationButton;
@@ -46,9 +47,6 @@
     {
         Q_OBJECT
 
-        //* declare active state opacity
-        Q_PROPERTY( qreal opacity READ opacity WRITE setOpacity )
-
         public:
 
         //* constructor
@@ -145,7 +143,7 @@
         SizeGrip *m_sizeGrip = nullptr;
 
         //* active state change animation
-        QPropertyAnimation *m_animation;
+        QVariantAnimation *m_animation;
 
         //* active state change opacity
         qreal m_opacity = 0;
diff --git a/kdecoration/breezedecoration.cpp b/kdecoration/breezedecoration.cpp
--- a/kdecoration/breezedecoration.cpp
+++ b/kdecoration/breezedecoration.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #include <QPainter>
 #include <QTextStream>
 #include <QTimer>
+#include <QVariantAnimation>
 
 #if BREEZE_HAVE_X11
 #include <QX11Info>
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@
     //________________________________________________________________
     Decoration::Decoration(QObject *parent, const QVariantList &args)
         : KDecoration2::Decoration(parent, args)
-        , m_animation( new QPropertyAnimation( this ) )
+        , m_animation( new QVariantAnimation( this ) )
     {
         g_sDecoCount++;
     }
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@
 
         auto c = client().data();
         if( hideTitleBar() ) return c->color( ColorGroup::Inactive, ColorRole::TitleBar );
-        else if( m_animation->state() == QPropertyAnimation::Running )
+        else if( m_animation->state() == QAbstractAnimation::Running )
         {
             return KColorUtils::mix(
                 c->color( ColorGroup::Inactive, ColorRole::TitleBar ),
@@ -209,7 +210,7 @@
 
         auto c( client().data() );
         if( !m_internalSettings->drawTitleBarSeparator() ) return QColor();
-        if( m_animation->state() == QPropertyAnimation::Running )
+        if( m_animation->state() == QAbstractAnimation::Running )
         {
             QColor color( c->palette().color( QPalette::Highlight ) );
             color.setAlpha( color.alpha()*m_opacity );
@@ -223,7 +224,7 @@
     {
 
         auto c = client().data();
-        if( m_animation->state() == QPropertyAnimation::Running )
+        if( m_animation->state() == QAbstractAnimation::Running )
         {
             return KColorUtils::mix(
                 c->color( ColorGroup::Inactive, ColorRole::Foreground ),
@@ -239,11 +240,13 @@
         auto c = client().data();
 
         // active state change animation
-        m_animation->setStartValue( 0 );
+        // It is important start and end value are of the same type, hence 0.0 and not just 0
+        m_animation->setStartValue( 0.0 );
         m_animation->setEndValue( 1.0 );
-        m_animation->setTargetObject( this );
-        m_animation->setPropertyName( "opacity" );
         m_animation->setEasingCurve( QEasingCurve::InOutQuad );
+        connect(m_animation, &QVariantAnimation::valueChanged, this, [this](const QVariant &value) {
+            setOpacity(value.toReal());
+        });
 
         reconfigure();
         updateTitleBar();
@@ -310,8 +313,8 @@
         {
 
             auto c = client().data();
-            m_animation->setDirection( c->isActive() ? QPropertyAnimation::Forward : QPropertyAnimation::Backward );
-            if( m_animation->state() != QPropertyAnimation::Running ) m_animation->start();
+            m_animation->setDirection( c->isActive() ? QAbstractAnimation::Forward : QAbstractAnimation::Backward );
+            if( m_animation->state() != QAbstractAnimation::Running ) m_animation->start();
 
         } else {