diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index 71d7ab3..51641bd 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -2621,19 +2621,31 @@ in
                                     highlightMoveVelocity: -1
                                     highlightResizeDuration: 0
 
+                                    // Only x,y are animated, and that is deliberate.
+                                    // There used to be add/remove transitions
+                                    // fading `opacity` and `scale` on the delegate
+                                    // root, and they corrupted the list: the model
+                                    // is re-diffed on EVERY keystroke, so a row
+                                    // part-way through a fade often survives the
+                                    // next pass as a move rather than a
+                                    // remove — and move animates x,y only, so the
+                                    // half-finished opacity was never restored.
+                                    // Rows accumulated stuck at 0.3, 0.6, 1.0
+                                    // depending on typing speed, which looked like
+                                    // the colours randomly fading.
+                                    //
+                                    // x,y are safe to animate because the view
+                                    // re-asserts them on every layout, so an
+                                    // interrupted slide self-corrects. opacity and
+                                    // scale have no such backstop. If a fade is
+                                    // ever wanted back, animate a child item, not
+                                    // the root the view recycles.
                                     move: Transition {
                                         NumberAnimation { properties: "x,y"; duration: Theme.animContent; easing.type: Easing.OutExpo }
                                     }
                                     displaced: Transition {
                                         NumberAnimation { properties: "x,y"; duration: Theme.animContent; easing.type: Easing.OutExpo }
                                     }
-                                    add: Transition {
-                                        NumberAnimation { property: "opacity"; from: 0; to: 1; duration: Theme.animContent }
-                                        NumberAnimation { property: "scale"; from: 0.92; to: 1; duration: Theme.animContent; easing.type: Easing.OutExpo }
-                                    }
-                                    remove: Transition {
-                                        NumberAnimation { property: "opacity"; to: 0; duration: 100 }
-                                    }
 
                                     delegate: Item {
                                         required property string appId