diff --git a/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Task.qml b/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Task.qml
--- a/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Task.qml
+++ b/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Task.qml
@@ -324,8 +324,9 @@
         }
 
         imagePath: "widgets/tasks"
+        property bool isHovered: task.highlighted && plasmoid.configuration.taskHoverEffect
         property string basePrefix: "normal"
-        prefix: TaskTools.taskPrefix(basePrefix)
+        prefix: isHovered ? TaskTools.taskPrefixHovered(basePrefix) : TaskTools.taskPrefix(basePrefix)
 
         PlasmaCore.ToolTipArea {
             id: toolTipArea
@@ -541,15 +542,6 @@
                 basePrefix: ""
             }
         },
-        State {
-            name: "hovered"
-            when: task.highlighted && frame.hasElementPrefix("hover") && plasmoid.configuration.taskHoverEffect
-
-            PropertyChanges {
-                target: frame
-                basePrefix: "hover"
-            }
-        },
         State {
             name: "attention"
             when: model.IsDemandingAttention === true || (task.smartLauncherItem && task.smartLauncherItem.urgent)
diff --git a/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/code/tools.js b/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/code/tools.js
--- a/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/code/tools.js
+++ b/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/code/tools.js
@@ -163,3 +163,11 @@
     }
     return [effectivePrefix, prefix];
 }
+
+function taskPrefixHovered(prefix) {
+    return [
+        ...TaskTools.taskPrefix(prefix + "-hover"),
+        ...TaskTools.taskPrefix("hover"),
+        ...TaskTools.taskPrefix(prefix)
+    ];
+}