diff --git a/js/gdm/loginDialog.js b/js/gdm/loginDialog.js
index faea47f22..70d091f2e 100644
--- a/js/gdm/loginDialog.js
+++ b/js/gdm/loginDialog.js
@@ -746,7 +746,12 @@ const LoginDialog = new Lang.Class({
         this._promptEntry.show();
         this._promptLoginHint.opacity = 0;
         this._promptLoginHint.show();
+        this._promptBox.opacity = 0;
         this._promptBox.show();
+        Tweener.addTween(this._promptBox,
+                         { opacity: 255,
+                           time: _FADE_ANIMATION_TIME,
+                           transition: 'easeOutQuad' });
 
         if (!this._user || (this._user.is_logged_in() && this._verifyingUser))
             this._sessionList.actor.show();
@@ -1065,6 +1070,7 @@ const LoginDialog = new Lang.Class({
 
     _hideUserListAndLogIn: function() {
         this._setUserListExpanded(false);
+        GdmUtil.cloneAndFadeOutActor(this._userSelectionBox);
         this._askForUsernameAndLogIn();
     },
 
@@ -1082,15 +1088,31 @@ const LoginDialog = new Lang.Class({
         return hold;
     },
 
-    _onUserListActivated: function(activatedItem) {
+    _beginVerificationForItem: function(item) {
         let userWidget = new UserWidget.UserWidget(item.user);
         this._promptUser.set_child(userWidget.actor);
 
-        this._setUserListExpanded(false);
+        let tasks = [function() {
+                         let userName = item.user.get_user_name();
+                         return this._beginVerificationForUser(userName);
+                     }];
+        let batch = new Batch.ConsecutiveBatch(this, tasks);
+        return batch.run();
+    },
+
+    _onUserListActivated: function(activatedItem) {
+        let tasks = [function() {
+                         return GdmUtil.cloneAndFadeOutActor(this._userSelectionBox);
+                     },
+                     function() {
+                         this._setUserListExpanded(false);
+                     }];
 
         this._user = activatedItem.user;
-        let userName = activatedItem.user.get_user_name();
-        this._beginVerificationForUser(userName);
+
+        let batch = new Batch.ConcurrentBatch(this, [new Batch.ConsecutiveBatch(this, tasks),
+                                                     this._beginVerificationForItem(activatedItem)]);
+        batch.run();
     },
 
     _onDestroy: function() {
diff --git a/js/gdm/util.js b/js/gdm/util.js
index 881d85916..6b69f33ee 100644
--- a/js/gdm/util.js
+++ b/js/gdm/util.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // -*- mode: js; js-indent-level: 4; indent-tabs-mode: nil -*-
 
+const Clutter = imports.gi.Clutter;
 const Gio = imports.gi.Gio;
 const Lang = imports.lang;
 const Mainloop = imports.mainloop;
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ const Tweener = imports.ui.tweener;
 const PASSWORD_SERVICE_NAME = 'gdm-password';
 const FINGERPRINT_SERVICE_NAME = 'gdm-fingerprint';
 const FADE_ANIMATION_TIME = 0.16;
+const CLONE_FADE_ANIMATION_TIME = 0.25;
 
 const LOGIN_SCREEN_SCHEMA = 'org.gnome.login-screen';
 const FINGERPRINT_AUTHENTICATION_KEY = 'enable-fingerprint-authentication';
@@ -71,6 +73,34 @@ function fadeOutActor(actor) {
     return hold;
 }
 
+function cloneAndFadeOutActor(actor) {
+    // Immediately hide actor so its sibling can have its space
+    // and position, but leave a non-reactive clone on-screen,
+    // so from the user's point of view it smoothly fades away
+    // and reveals its sibling.
+    actor.hide();
+
+    let clone = new Clutter.Clone({ source: actor,
+                                    reactive: false });
+
+    Main.uiGroup.add_child(clone);
+
+    let [x, y] = actor.get_transformed_position();
+    clone.set_position(x, y);
+
+    let hold = new Batch.Hold();
+    Tweener.addTween(clone,
+                     { opacity: 0,
+                       time: CLONE_FADE_ANIMATION_TIME,
+                       transition: 'easeOutQuad',
+                       onComplete: function() {
+                           clone.destroy();
+                           hold.release();
+                       }
+                     });
+    return hold;
+}
+
 const ShellUserVerifier = new Lang.Class({
     Name: 'ShellUserVerifier',