diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.cpp
index 7d1bdf0..0ff1cce 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.cpp
@@ -108,8 +108,21 @@
 }
 
 status_t HWComposer::release() const {
-    int err = mHwc->set(mHwc, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-    return (status_t)err;
+    if (mHwc) {
+        int err = mHwc->set(mHwc, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        return (status_t)err;
+    }
+    return NO_ERROR;
+}
+
+status_t HWComposer::disable() {
+    if (mHwc) {
+        free(mList);
+        mList = NULL;
+        int err = mHwc->prepare(mHwc, NULL);
+        return (status_t)err;
+    }
+    return NO_ERROR;
 }
 
 size_t HWComposer::getNumLayers() const {
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.h b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.h
index 983898a..77c1a4b 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayHardware/HWComposer.h
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@
     // Asks the HAL what it can do
     status_t prepare() const;
 
+    // disable hwc until next createWorkList
+    status_t disable();
+
     // commits the list
     status_t commit() const;
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
index b4c5dec..4a3a8ea 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
@@ -2113,6 +2113,12 @@
         // we're already off
         return NO_ERROR;
     }
+
+    // turn off hwc while we're doing the animation
+    hw.getHwComposer().disable();
+    // and make sure to turn it back on (if needed) next time we compose
+    invalidateHwcGeometry();
+
     if (mode & ISurfaceComposer::eElectronBeamAnimationOff) {
         electronBeamOffAnimationImplLocked();
     }