diff --git a/abogen/gui.py b/abogen/gui.py
index f7be737..ad1cb6f 100644
--- a/abogen/gui.py
+++ b/abogen/gui.py
@@ -1417,7 +1417,6 @@ class abogen(QWidget):
         if self.preview_playing:
             try:
                 import pygame
-
                 pygame.mixer.music.stop()
             except Exception:
                 pass
@@ -1432,8 +1431,20 @@ class abogen(QWidget):
         self.voice_combo.setEnabled(False)
         self.btn_voice_formula_mixer.setEnabled(False)  # Disable mixer button
         self.btn_start.setEnabled(False)  # Disable start button during preview
-        # start loading animation
-        self.loading_movie.start()
+        
+        # Start loading animation - ensure signal connection is always active
+        if hasattr(self, 'loading_movie'):
+            # Disconnect previous connections to avoid multiple connections
+            try:
+                self.loading_movie.frameChanged.disconnect()
+            except TypeError:
+                pass  # Ignore error if not connected
+            
+            # Reconnect the signal
+            self.loading_movie.frameChanged.connect(
+                lambda: self.btn_preview.setIcon(QIcon(self.loading_movie.currentPixmap()))
+            )
+            self.loading_movie.start()
 
         def pipeline_loaded_callback(np_module, kpipeline_class, error):
             self._on_pipeline_loaded_for_preview(np_module, kpipeline_class, error)