diff --git a/QtAwesome/QtAwesome.cpp b/QtAwesome/QtAwesome.cpp
index 79811cc..49fa6bb 100644
--- a/QtAwesome/QtAwesome.cpp
+++ b/QtAwesome/QtAwesome.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ public:
 
         painter->save();
 
-        QObject* qanim = qvariant_cast<QObject*>(options.value("anim"));
-        QtAwesomeAnimation* anim = qobject_cast<QtAwesomeAnimation*>(qanim);
+        QVariant var =options.value("anim");
+        QtAwesomeAnimation* anim = var.value<QtAwesomeAnimation*>();
         if( anim ) {
             anim->setup( *painter, rect );
         }
diff --git a/QtAwesome/QtAwesome.h b/QtAwesome/QtAwesome.h
index 3bcb0de..a56caeb 100644
--- a/QtAwesome/QtAwesome.h
+++ b/QtAwesome/QtAwesome.h
@@ -871,6 +871,6 @@ public:
     virtual void paint( QtAwesome* awesome, QPainter* painter, const QRect& rect, QIcon::Mode mode, QIcon::State state, const QVariantMap& options ) = 0;
 };
 
-
+Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(QtAwesomeAnimation*)
 
 #endif // QTAWESOME_H