diff --git a/src/core/core.controller.js b/src/core/core.controller.js
index 5fd4b2d6aa6..e873e3a977f 100644
--- a/src/core/core.controller.js
+++ b/src/core/core.controller.js
@@ -821,7 +821,15 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			me._bufferedRequest = null;
 
 			var changed = me.handleEvent(e);
-			changed |= tooltip && tooltip.handleEvent(e);
+			// for smooth tooltip animations issue #4989
+			// the tooltip should be the source of change
+			// Animation check workaround:
+			// tooltip._start will be null when tooltip isn't animating
+			if (tooltip) {
+				changed = tooltip._start
+					? tooltip.handleEvent(e)
+					: changed | tooltip.handleEvent(e);
+			}
 
 			plugins.notify(me, 'afterEvent', [e]);
 
diff --git a/src/core/core.tooltip.js b/src/core/core.tooltip.js
index 0072580dfbf..9b09d760443 100644
--- a/src/core/core.tooltip.js
+++ b/src/core/core.tooltip.js
@@ -852,25 +852,19 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 			// Remember Last Actives
 			changed = !helpers.arrayEquals(me._active, me._lastActive);
 
-			// If tooltip didn't change, do not handle the target event
-			if (!changed) {
-				return false;
-			}
-
-			me._lastActive = me._active;
-
-			if (options.enabled || options.custom) {
-				me._eventPosition = {
-					x: e.x,
-					y: e.y
-				};
-
-				var model = me._model;
-				me.update(true);
-				me.pivot();
-
-				// See if our tooltip position changed
-				changed |= (model.x !== me._model.x) || (model.y !== me._model.y);
+			// Only handle target event on tooltip change
+			if (changed) {
+				me._lastActive = me._active;
+
+				if (options.enabled || options.custom) {
+					me._eventPosition = {
+						x: e.x,
+						y: e.y
+					};
+
+					me.update(true);
+					me.pivot();
+				}
 			}
 
 			return changed;