diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
index 36cac2155d..c32e9d1d68 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ namespace MWRender
 
     void RaceSelectionPreview::update(float angle)
     {
+        mAnimation->runAnimation(0.0f);
         mNode->roll(Ogre::Radian(angle), Ogre::SceneNode::TS_LOCAL);
 
         mNode->setVisible (true);
@@ -175,4 +176,9 @@ namespace MWRender
         rebuild();
         update(0);
     }
+
+    void RaceSelectionPreview::onSetup ()
+    {
+        mAnimation->play("idle", "start", "stop", false);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.hpp
index d07a03be7d..cf1e250692 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.hpp
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ namespace MWRender
     public:
         RaceSelectionPreview();
 
+        virtual void onSetup();
+
         void update(float angle);
 
         const ESM::NPC &getPrototype() const {