Index: /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/GettingStarted.java
===================================================================
--- /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/GettingStarted.java	(revision 17321)
+++ /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/GettingStarted.java	(revision 17322)
@@ -155,5 +155,7 @@
     @Override
     public void addNotify() {
-        timer.start();
+        if (AnimationExtensionManager.isExtensionEnabled()) {
+            timer.start();
+        }
         super.addNotify();
     }
@@ -161,5 +163,7 @@
     @Override
     public void removeNotify() {
-        timer.stop();
+        if (timer.isRunning()) {
+            timer.stop();
+        }
         super.removeNotify();
     }
Index: /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/animation/AnimationExtensionManager.java
===================================================================
--- /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/animation/AnimationExtensionManager.java	(revision 17321)
+++ /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/animation/AnimationExtensionManager.java	(revision 17322)
@@ -35,4 +35,13 @@
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Determines if an extension other than {@link NoExtension} is enabled.
+     * @return {@code true} if an extension other than {@code NoExtension} is enabled.
+     * @since 17322
+     */
+    public static boolean isExtensionEnabled() {
+        return !(getExtension() instanceof NoExtension);
+    }
+
     private static boolean isChristmas() {
         Calendar c = new GregorianCalendar();