diff --git a/static/js/app.js b/static/js/app.js
index 70e91a9..f103073 100644
--- a/static/js/app.js
+++ b/static/js/app.js
@@ -302,10 +302,17 @@ function hideSlideshow() {
 
 function loadSlide(slot, url) {
     const img = document.getElementById(`slide-${slot}`);
-    img.src = url;
     if (slot === activeSlot) {
-        // Slight delay lets the browser decode before fading in
-        requestAnimationFrame(() => requestAnimationFrame(() => img.classList.add('active')));
+        // Only fade in once the image is fully decoded — no blank-then-flash
+        img.onload = () => { img.onload = null; img.classList.add('active'); };
+        img.src = url;
+        // Handle cached images that won't fire onload
+        if (img.complete && img.naturalWidth > 0) {
+            img.onload = null;
+            img.classList.add('active');
+        }
+    } else {
+        img.src = url; // preload only
     }
 }
 
@@ -314,13 +321,20 @@ function advanceSlide() {
     const current  = document.getElementById(`slide-${activeSlot}`);
     const next     = document.getElementById(`slide-${nextSlot}`);
 
-    // Fade in the preloaded next image, fade out current
-    next.classList.add('active');
-    current.classList.remove('active');
-    activeSlot = nextSlot;
+    const doSwap = () => {
+        next.onload = null;
+        next.classList.add('active');
+        current.classList.remove('active');
+        activeSlot = nextSlot;
+        // Preload the upcoming photo into the now-hidden slot
+        slideIndex = (slideIndex + 1) % photos.length;
+        current.src = photos[(slideIndex + 1) % photos.length];
+    };
 
-    // Preload the one after next into the now-hidden slot
-    slideIndex = (slideIndex + 1) % photos.length;
-    const upcoming = photos[(slideIndex + 1) % photos.length];
-    current.src = upcoming;
+    // If the preloaded image is ready, swap immediately; otherwise wait for it
+    if (next.complete && next.naturalWidth > 0) {
+        doSwap();
+    } else {
+        next.onload = doSwap;
+    }
 }