diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fecef31f..8f3d4905 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 ## [Unreleased]
 ### Changed
 - Properly return focus to the active window on the current space when a window is moved through a rule [#418](https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/issues/418)
+- Prevent space operations (create, destroy, focus, swap, move and send to display) from applying while mission-control is active or the display is animating [#417](https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai/issues/417)
 
 ## [2.3.0] - 2020-02-14
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/message.c b/src/message.c
index 5b575e10..b3355000 100644
--- a/src/message.c
+++ b/src/message.c
@@ -1295,7 +1295,14 @@ static void handle_domain_space(FILE *rsp, struct token domain, char *message)
     if (token_equals(command, COMMAND_SPACE_FOCUS)) {
         struct selector selector = parse_space_selector(rsp, &message, acting_sid);
         if (selector.did_parse && selector.sid) {
-            space_manager_focus_space(selector.sid);
+            enum space_op_error result = space_manager_focus_space(selector.sid);
+            if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_SPACE) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot focus an already focused space.\n");
+            } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot focus space because the display is in the middle of an animation.\n");
+            } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot focus space because mission-control is active.\n");
+            }
         }
     } else if (token_equals(command, COMMAND_SPACE_MOVE)) {
         struct selector selector = parse_space_selector(rsp, &message, acting_sid);
@@ -1305,6 +1312,10 @@ static void handle_domain_space(FILE *rsp, struct token domain, char *message)
                 daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot move space to itself.\n");
             } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_DISPLAY) {
                 daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot move space across display boundaries. use --display instead.\n");
+            } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot move space because the display is in the middle of an animation.\n");
+            } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot move space because mission-control is active.\n");
             }
         }
     } else if (token_equals(command, COMMAND_SPACE_SWAP)) {
@@ -1315,6 +1326,10 @@ static void handle_domain_space(FILE *rsp, struct token domain, char *message)
                 daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot swap space with itself.\n");
             } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_DISPLAY) {
                 daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot swap space across display boundaries. use --display instead.\n");
+            } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot swap space because the display is in the middle of an animation.\n");
+            } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot swap space because mission-control is active.\n");
             }
         }
     } else if (token_equals(command, COMMAND_SPACE_DISPLAY)) {
@@ -1329,10 +1344,21 @@ static void handle_domain_space(FILE *rsp, struct token domain, char *message)
                 daemon_fail(rsp, "acting space is the last user-space on the source display and cannot be moved.\n");
             } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_DST) {
                 daemon_fail(rsp, "acting space is already located on the given display.\n");
+            } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot send space to display because it is in the middle of an animation.\n");
+            } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL) {
+                daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot send space to display because mission-control is active.\n");
             }
         }
     } else if (token_equals(command, COMMAND_SPACE_CREATE)) {
-        space_manager_add_space(acting_sid);
+        enum space_op_error result = space_manager_add_space(acting_sid);
+        if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_SRC) {
+            daemon_fail(rsp, "could not locate the space to act on.\n");
+        } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING) {
+            daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot create space because the display is in the middle of an animation.\n");
+        } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL) {
+            daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot create space because mission-control is active.\n");
+        }
     } else if (token_equals(command, COMMAND_SPACE_DESTROY)) {
         enum space_op_error result = space_manager_destroy_space(acting_sid);
         if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_SRC) {
@@ -1341,6 +1367,10 @@ static void handle_domain_space(FILE *rsp, struct token domain, char *message)
             daemon_fail(rsp, "acting space is the last user-space on the source display and cannot be destroyed.\n");
         } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_TYPE) {
             daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot destroy a macOS fullscreen space.\n");
+        } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING) {
+            daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot destroy space because the display is in the middle of an animation.\n");
+        } else if (result == SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL) {
+            daemon_fail(rsp, "cannot destroy space because mission-control is active.\n");
         }
     } else if (token_equals(command, COMMAND_SPACE_BALANCE)) {
         space_manager_balance_space(&g_space_manager, acting_sid);
diff --git a/src/space_manager.c b/src/space_manager.c
index eb57516d..052f9011 100644
--- a/src/space_manager.c
+++ b/src/space_manager.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 extern struct window_manager g_window_manager;
 extern char g_sa_socket_file[MAXLEN];
+extern bool g_mission_control_active;
 extern int g_connection;
 
 static TABLE_HASH_FUNC(hash_view)
@@ -595,25 +596,34 @@ void space_manager_move_window_to_space(uint64_t sid, struct window *window)
     CFRelease(window_list_ref);
 }
 
-void space_manager_focus_space(uint64_t sid)
+enum space_op_error space_manager_focus_space(uint64_t sid)
 {
     int sockfd;
     char message[MAXLEN];
 
+    bool is_in_mc = g_mission_control_active;
+    if (is_in_mc) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL;
+
     uint64_t cur_sid = space_manager_active_space();
+    if (cur_sid == sid) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_SPACE;
+
     uint32_t cur_did = space_display_id(cur_sid);
     uint32_t new_did = space_display_id(sid);
+    bool focus_display = cur_did != new_did;
+
+    bool is_animating = display_manager_display_is_animating(new_did);
+    if (is_animating) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING;
 
     if (socket_connect_un(&sockfd, g_sa_socket_file)) {
         snprintf(message, sizeof(message), "space %lld", sid);
         socket_write(sockfd, message);
         socket_wait(sockfd);
 
-        if (cur_did != new_did) {
-            display_manager_focus_display(new_did);
-        }
+        if (focus_display) display_manager_focus_display(new_did);
     }
     socket_close(sockfd);
+
+    return SPACE_OP_ERROR_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 static inline bool space_manager_is_space_last_user_space(uint64_t sid)
@@ -656,12 +666,18 @@ static void space_manager_move_space_after_space(uint64_t src_sid, uint64_t dst_
 
 enum space_op_error space_manager_swap_space_with_space(uint64_t acting_sid, uint64_t selector_sid)
 {
+    bool is_in_mc = g_mission_control_active;
+    if (is_in_mc) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL;
+
     uint32_t acting_did = space_display_id(acting_sid);
     uint32_t selector_did = space_display_id(selector_sid);
 
     if (acting_sid == selector_sid) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_SPACE;
     if (acting_did != selector_did) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_DISPLAY;
 
+    bool is_animating = display_manager_display_is_animating(acting_did);
+    if (is_animating) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING;
+
     uint64_t acting_prev_sid = space_manager_prev_space(acting_sid);
     uint64_t selector_prev_sid = space_manager_prev_space(selector_sid);
 
@@ -699,12 +715,18 @@ enum space_op_error space_manager_swap_space_with_space(uint64_t acting_sid, uin
 
 enum space_op_error space_manager_move_space_to_space(uint64_t acting_sid, uint64_t selector_sid)
 {
+    bool is_in_mc = g_mission_control_active;
+    if (is_in_mc) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL;
+
     uint32_t acting_did = space_display_id(acting_sid);
     uint32_t selector_did = space_display_id(selector_sid);
 
     if (acting_sid == selector_sid) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_SPACE;
     if (acting_did != selector_did) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_DISPLAY;
 
+    bool is_animating = display_manager_display_is_animating(acting_did);
+    if (is_animating) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING;
+
     uint64_t acting_prev_sid = space_manager_prev_space(acting_sid);
     uint64_t selector_prev_sid = space_manager_prev_space(selector_sid);
 
@@ -733,14 +755,25 @@ enum space_op_error space_manager_move_space_to_space(uint64_t acting_sid, uint6
 enum space_op_error space_manager_move_space_to_display(struct space_manager *sm, uint64_t sid, uint32_t did)
 {
     int sockfd;
-    uint64_t d_sid;
     char message[MAXLEN];
 
-    if (!sid) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_SRC;
-    if (space_display_id(sid) == did) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_DST;
-    if (space_manager_is_space_last_user_space(sid)) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_SRC;
+    bool is_in_mc = g_mission_control_active;
+    if (is_in_mc) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL;
+    if (!sid)     return SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_SRC;
+
+    uint32_t s_did = space_display_id(sid);
+    if (s_did == did) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_DST;
+
+    bool is_src_animating = display_manager_display_is_animating(s_did);
+    if (is_src_animating) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING;
+
+    bool last_space = space_manager_is_space_last_user_space(sid);
+    if (last_space) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_SRC;
+
+    bool is_dst_animating = display_manager_display_is_animating(did);
+    if (is_dst_animating) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING;
 
-    d_sid = display_space_id(did);
+    uint64_t d_sid = display_space_id(did);
     if (!d_sid) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_DST;
 
     if (socket_connect_un(&sockfd, g_sa_socket_file)) {
@@ -761,10 +794,16 @@ enum space_op_error space_manager_destroy_space(uint64_t sid)
     int sockfd;
     char message[MAXLEN];
 
+    bool is_in_mc = g_mission_control_active;
+    if (is_in_mc) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL;
+
     if (!sid) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_SRC;
     if (!space_is_user(sid)) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_TYPE;
     if (space_manager_is_space_last_user_space(sid)) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_SRC;
 
+    bool is_animating = display_manager_display_is_animating(space_display_id(sid));
+    if (is_animating) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING;
+
     if (socket_connect_un(&sockfd, g_sa_socket_file)) {
         snprintf(message, sizeof(message), "space_destroy %lld", sid);
         socket_write(sockfd, message);
@@ -775,12 +814,17 @@ enum space_op_error space_manager_destroy_space(uint64_t sid)
     return SPACE_OP_ERROR_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-void space_manager_add_space(uint64_t sid)
+enum space_op_error space_manager_add_space(uint64_t sid)
 {
     int sockfd;
     char message[MAXLEN];
 
-    if (!sid) return;
+    bool is_in_mc = g_mission_control_active;
+    if (is_in_mc) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL;
+    if (!sid)     return SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_SRC;
+
+    bool is_animating = display_manager_display_is_animating(space_display_id(sid));
+    if (is_animating) return SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING;
 
     if (socket_connect_un(&sockfd, g_sa_socket_file)) {
         snprintf(message, sizeof(message), "space_create %lld", sid);
@@ -788,6 +832,8 @@ void space_manager_add_space(uint64_t sid)
         socket_wait(sockfd);
     }
     socket_close(sockfd);
+
+    return SPACE_OP_ERROR_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 void space_manager_assign_process_to_space(pid_t pid, uint64_t sid)
diff --git a/src/space_manager.h b/src/space_manager.h
index f37ff01c..2f2b0cc9 100644
--- a/src/space_manager.h
+++ b/src/space_manager.h
@@ -34,14 +34,16 @@ struct space_manager
 
 enum space_op_error
 {
-    SPACE_OP_ERROR_SUCCESS      = 0,
-    SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_SRC  = 1,
-    SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_DST  = 2,
-    SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_SRC  = 3,
-    SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_DST  = 4,
-    SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_TYPE = 5,
-    SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_SPACE   = 6,
-    SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_DISPLAY = 7,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_SUCCESS              = 0,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_SRC          = 1,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_MISSING_DST          = 2,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_SRC          = 3,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_DST          = 4,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_INVALID_TYPE         = 5,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_SPACE           = 6,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_SAME_DISPLAY         = 7,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_DISPLAY_IS_ANIMATING = 8,
+    SPACE_OP_ERROR_IN_MISSION_CONTROL   = 9,
 };
 
 bool space_manager_has_separate_spaces(void);
@@ -85,12 +87,12 @@ void space_manager_toggle_padding_for_space(struct space_manager *sm, uint64_t s
 void space_manager_rotate_space(struct space_manager *sm, uint64_t sid, int degrees);
 void space_manager_mirror_space(struct space_manager *sm, uint64_t sid, enum window_node_split axis);
 void space_manager_move_window_to_space(uint64_t sid, struct window *window);
-void space_manager_focus_space(uint64_t sid);
+enum space_op_error space_manager_focus_space(uint64_t sid);
 enum space_op_error space_manager_swap_space_with_space(uint64_t acting_sid, uint64_t selector_sid);
 enum space_op_error space_manager_move_space_to_space(uint64_t acting_sid, uint64_t selector_sid);
 enum space_op_error space_manager_move_space_to_display(struct space_manager *sm, uint64_t sid, uint32_t did);
 enum space_op_error space_manager_destroy_space(uint64_t sid);
-void space_manager_add_space(uint64_t sid);
+enum space_op_error space_manager_add_space(uint64_t sid);
 void space_manager_assign_process_to_space(pid_t pid, uint64_t sid);
 void space_manager_assign_process_to_all_spaces(pid_t pid);
 bool space_manager_is_window_on_active_space(struct window *window);