diff --git a/js/ui/messageTray.js b/js/ui/messageTray.js
index 9e9f7af4c..345dede34 100644
--- a/js/ui/messageTray.js
+++ b/js/ui/messageTray.js
@@ -1902,6 +1902,7 @@ const MessageTray = new Lang.Class({
 
         this.actor.add_actor(this._banner.actor);
 
+        this.actor._opacity = 0;
         this.actor.opacity = 0;
         this.actor.y = -this._banner.actor.height;
         this.actor.show();