     {
         super.playReversed = value;
         
-        if (animation)
+        if (value && animation)
             animation.reverse();
         
         reverseAnimation = value;

import mx.effects.Animation;
import mx.effects.AnimationProperty;
import mx.effects.EffectInstance;
import mx.effects.interpolation.IEaser;
import mx.effects.interpolation.IInterpolator;
import mx.effects.interpolation.NumberInterpolator;

            setupParentLayout(false);
            
        var anim:Animation = Animation(event.target);
        finalizeValues();

        // TODO (chaase): Consider putting AnimateInstance (and subclass's) 
        // play() functionality (the setup and playing of the Animation object)
        // into startEffect(), calling play() from here, and not overriding
