diff --git a/core-animation.html b/core-animation.html
index 9a958c9..a2ad08f 100644
--- a/core-animation.html
+++ b/core-animation.html
@@ -299,8 +299,10 @@
          * @return AnimationPlayer The animation player.
          */
         play: function() {
-          this.apply();
-          if (this.animation && !this.autoplay) {
+          if (!this.autoplay) {
+            this.apply();
+          }
+          if (this.animation) {
             this.player = document.timeline.play(this.animation);
             this.player.onfinish = this.animationFinishHandler.bind(this);
             return this.player;