diff --git a/wled00/FX.cpp b/wled00/FX.cpp
index 7cea200e..74a705b4 100644
--- a/wled00/FX.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX.cpp
@@ -5314,7 +5314,7 @@ uint16_t mode_2Dmatrix(void) {                  // Matrix2D. By Jeremy Williams.
           if (row < rows-1) SEGMENT.setPixelColorXY(col, row+1, spawnColor);
         } else {
           // fade other pixels
-          SEGMENT.setPixelColorXY(col, row, pix.nscale8(fade));
+          if (pix != CRGB::Black) SEGMENT.setPixelColorXY(col, row, pix.nscale8(fade)); // optimization: don't fade black pixels
         }
       }
     }