diff --git a/components/compositing/compositor.rs b/components/compositing/compositor.rs
index 29f51edc0d80..8f0c12e5bf7e 100644
--- a/components/compositing/compositor.rs
+++ b/components/compositing/compositor.rs
@@ -1191,10 +1191,13 @@ impl<Window: WindowMethods> IOCompositor<Window> {
             }
         }
 
-        // We still need to tick layout unfortunately, see things like #12749.
-        let msg = ConstellationMsg::TickAnimation(pipeline_id, AnimationTickType::Layout);
-        if let Err(e) = self.constellation_chan.send(msg) {
-            warn!("Sending tick to constellation failed ({}).", e);
+        // We may need to tick animations in layout. (See #12749.)
+        let animations_running = self.pipeline_details(pipeline_id).animations_running;
+        if animations_running {
+            let msg = ConstellationMsg::TickAnimation(pipeline_id, AnimationTickType::Layout);
+            if let Err(e) = self.constellation_chan.send(msg) {
+                warn!("Sending tick to constellation failed ({}).", e);
+            }
         }
     }