diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
index 3005921d39..5d94a9a7d0 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
@@ -1690,12 +1690,19 @@ static void insertSorted(QList<AnimationHandlePointer>& handles, const Animation
 }
 
 void AnimationHandle::setPriority(float priority) {
-    if (_priority != priority) {
-        _priority = priority;
-        if (_running) {
-            _model->_runningAnimations.removeOne(_self);
-            insertSorted(_model->_runningAnimations, _self);
+    if (_priority == priority) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if (_running) {
+        _model->_runningAnimations.removeOne(_self);
+        if (priority < _priority) {
+            lowerPriority(priority);
         }
+        _priority = priority;
+        insertSorted(_model->_runningAnimations, _self);
+        
+    } else {
+        _priority = priority;
     }
 }
 
@@ -1726,15 +1733,7 @@ void AnimationHandle::setRunning(bool running) {
           
     } else {
         _model->_runningAnimations.removeOne(_self);
-        for (int i = 0; i < _jointMappings.size(); i++) {
-            int mapping = _jointMappings.at(i);
-            if (mapping != -1) {
-                Model::JointState& state = _model->_jointStates[mapping];
-                if (_priority == state.animationPriority) {
-                    state.animationPriority = 0.0f;
-                }
-            }
-        }
+        lowerPriority(0.0f);
     }
     emit runningChanged(_running);
 }
@@ -1820,3 +1819,14 @@ void AnimationHandle::simulate(float deltaTime) {
     }
 }
 
+void AnimationHandle::lowerPriority(float newPriority) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < _jointMappings.size(); i++) {
+        int mapping = _jointMappings.at(i);
+        if (mapping != -1) {
+            Model::JointState& state = _model->_jointStates[mapping];
+            if (_priority == state.animationPriority) {
+                state.animationPriority = newPriority;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
index a0806ee238..c2aeec7183 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
@@ -430,7 +430,8 @@ private:
     AnimationHandle(Model* model);
         
     void simulate(float deltaTime);
-        
+    void lowerPriority(float newPriority);
+    
     Model* _model;
     WeakAnimationHandlePointer _self;
     AnimationPointer _animation;
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.cpp b/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.cpp
index 9f62abc270..2456b589da 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.cpp
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@ AnimationPanel::AnimationPanel(AnimationsDialog* dialog, const AnimationHandlePo
     buttons->addWidget(remove);
     connect(remove, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), SLOT(removeHandle()));
     
-    connect(_handle.data(), SIGNAL(runningChanged(bool)), SLOT(updateStartStop()));
-    updateStartStop();
+    _stop->connect(_handle.data(), SIGNAL(runningChanged(bool)), SLOT(setEnabled(bool)));
+    _stop->setEnabled(_handle->isRunning());
 }
 
 void AnimationPanel::chooseURL() {
@@ -185,11 +185,6 @@ void AnimationPanel::chooseMaskedJoints() {
     }
 }
 
-void AnimationPanel::updateStartStop() {
-    _start->setEnabled(!_handle->isRunning());
-    _stop->setEnabled(_handle->isRunning());
-}
-
 void AnimationPanel::updateHandle() {
     _handle->setRole(_role->currentText());
     _handle->setURL(_url->text());
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.h b/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.h
index 6f7a2f3784..dd3865741e 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.h
+++ b/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.h
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ private slots:
 
     void chooseURL();
     void chooseMaskedJoints();
-    void updateStartStop();
     void updateHandle();
     void removeHandle();