diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index 9562b7cc9f..9bfe771bce 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -1511,6 +1511,8 @@ void CharacterController::update(float duration)
     else if (mAnimation)
         mAnimation->updateEffects(duration);
     mSkipAnim = false;
+
+    mAnimation->enableHeadAnimation(cls.isActor() && !cls.getCreatureStats(mPtr).isDead());
 }
 
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
index e15bd6ecbe..a282e34ed2 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ public:
     virtual void attachArrow() {}
     virtual void releaseArrow() {}
     void enableLights(bool enable);
+    virtual void enableHeadAnimation(bool enable) {}
 
     Ogre::AxisAlignedBox getWorldBounds();
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
index 0a9b56b33d..23b7616460 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
@@ -67,11 +67,16 @@ namespace MWRender
 {
 
 HeadAnimationTime::HeadAnimationTime(MWWorld::Ptr reference)
-    : mReference(reference), mTalkStart(0), mTalkStop(0), mBlinkStart(0), mBlinkStop(0), mValue(0)
+    : mReference(reference), mTalkStart(0), mTalkStop(0), mBlinkStart(0), mBlinkStop(0), mValue(0), mEnabled(true)
 {
     resetBlinkTimer();
 }
 
+void HeadAnimationTime::setEnabled(bool enabled)
+{
+    mEnabled = enabled;
+}
+
 void HeadAnimationTime::resetBlinkTimer()
 {
     mBlinkTimer = -(2 + (std::rand() / double(RAND_MAX*1.0)) * 6);
@@ -79,6 +84,9 @@ void HeadAnimationTime::resetBlinkTimer()
 
 void HeadAnimationTime::update(float dt)
 {
+    if (!mEnabled)
+        return;
+
     if (MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->sayDone(mReference))
     {
         mBlinkTimer += dt;
@@ -864,6 +872,11 @@ void NpcAnimation::setAlpha(float alpha)
     }
 }
 
+void NpcAnimation::enableHeadAnimation(bool enable)
+{
+    mHeadAnimationTime->setEnabled(enable);
+}
+
 void NpcAnimation::preRender(Ogre::Camera *camera)
 {
     Animation::preRender(camera);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.hpp
index 95cd35ddb0..979210591c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.hpp
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ private:
 
     float mBlinkTimer;
 
+    bool mEnabled;
+
     float mValue;
 private:
     void resetBlinkTimer();
@@ -34,6 +36,8 @@ public:
 
     void update(float dt);
 
+    void setEnabled(bool enabled);
+
     void setTalkStart(float value);
     void setTalkStop(float value);
     void setBlinkStart(float value);
@@ -125,6 +129,8 @@ public:
                  ViewMode viewMode=VM_Normal);
     virtual ~NpcAnimation();
 
+    virtual void enableHeadAnimation(bool enable);
+
     virtual void setWeaponGroup(const std::string& group) { mWeaponAnimationTime->setGroup(group); }
 
     virtual Ogre::Vector3 runAnimation(float timepassed);