diff --git a/clutter/clutter-actor.c b/clutter/clutter-actor.c
index 2766b6501..becb73afd 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-actor.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-actor.c
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@
  *   </informalexample>
  *   <para>The initial <emphasis>@</emphasis> is mandatory.</para>
  *   <para>The <emphasis>section</emphasis> fragment can be one between
- *   "actions" or "constraints".</para>
+ *   "actions", "constraints" and "effects".</para>
  *   <para>The <emphasis>meta-name</emphasis> fragment is the name of the
  *   action or constraint, as specified by the #ClutterActorMeta:name
  *   property.</para>
@@ -8401,6 +8401,7 @@ get_meta_from_animation_property (ClutterActor  *actor,
    *
    *   - actions
    *   - constraints
+   *   - effects
    *
    * and <meta-name> is the name set on a specific ActorMeta
    */
@@ -8420,6 +8421,9 @@ get_meta_from_animation_property (ClutterActor  *actor,
   if (strcmp (tokens[0], "constraints") == 0)
     meta = _clutter_meta_group_get_meta (priv->constraints, tokens[1]);
 
+  if (strcmp (tokens[0], "effects") == 0)
+    meta = _clutter_meta_group_get_meta (priv->effects, tokens[1]);
+
   if (name_p != NULL)
     *name_p = g_strdup (tokens[2]);
 
diff --git a/tests/interactive/test-rotate.c b/tests/interactive/test-rotate.c
index 60f85df96..f8018692d 100644
--- a/tests/interactive/test-rotate.c
+++ b/tests/interactive/test-rotate.c
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ test_rotate_main (int argc, char *argv[])
 
   clutter_init (&argc, &argv);
 
+  /* Make a timeline */
+  timeline = clutter_timeline_new (7692);
+  clutter_timeline_set_loop (timeline, TRUE);
+
   stage = clutter_stage_get_default ();
 
   clutter_stage_set_color (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage),
@@ -35,7 +39,10 @@ test_rotate_main (int argc, char *argv[])
 
   clutter_actor_set_position (hand, 240, 140);
   clutter_actor_show (hand);
-  clutter_actor_add_effect (hand, clutter_desaturate_effect_new (0.75));
+  clutter_actor_add_effect_with_name (hand, "desaturate", clutter_desaturate_effect_new (0.75));
+  clutter_actor_animate_with_timeline (hand, CLUTTER_LINEAR, timeline,
+                                       "@effects.desaturate.factor", 1.0,
+                                       NULL);
 
   label = clutter_text_new_with_text ("Mono 16",
                                       "The Wonder\n"
@@ -47,10 +54,6 @@ test_rotate_main (int argc, char *argv[])
 
   clutter_container_add (CLUTTER_CONTAINER (stage), hand, label, NULL);
   
-  /* Make a timeline */
-  timeline = clutter_timeline_new (7692); /* num frames, fps */
-  clutter_timeline_set_loop (timeline, TRUE);
-
   /* Set an alpha func to power behaviour */
   alpha = clutter_alpha_new_full (timeline, CLUTTER_LINEAR);