diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 565efc10c..ec3695cfe 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ Note that since we don't clearly distinguish between a public and private interf
         - Use of `KHR_parallel_shader_compile` extension when available to check status
     - Add `ShaderManager` to compile shaders based on `Canvas3D` params and `Scene` content
     - Draw `Scene` only when shaders are ready
+- Fix incorrect animation loop handling in the screenshot code
 
 ## [v4.18.0] - 2025-06-08
 - MolViewSpec extension:
diff --git a/src/mol-plugin/util/viewport-screenshot.ts b/src/mol-plugin/util/viewport-screenshot.ts
index 711dd462c..83cca4fab 100644
--- a/src/mol-plugin/util/viewport-screenshot.ts
+++ b/src/mol-plugin/util/viewport-screenshot.ts
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ export class ViewportScreenshotHelper extends PluginComponent {
         const { width, height, viewport } = this.getSizeAndViewport();
         if (width <= 0 || height <= 0) return;
 
-        this.plugin.canvas3d?.pause(true);
+        this.plugin.animationLoop.stop({ noDraw: true });
         try {
             await ctx.update('Rendering image...');
             const pass = this.imagePass;
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ export class ViewportScreenshotHelper extends PluginComponent {
             if (!canvasCtx) throw new Error('Could not create canvas 2d context');
             canvasCtx.putImageData(imageData, 0, 0);
         } finally {
-            this.plugin.canvas3d?.animate();
+            this.plugin.animationLoop.start({ immediate: true });
         }
         return;
     }