diff --git a/static/js/app.js b/static/js/app.js
index 538a353..fa7cd80 100644
--- a/static/js/app.js
+++ b/static/js/app.js
@@ -328,15 +328,21 @@ function advanceSlide() {
         activeSlot = nextSlot;
         slideIndex = (slideIndex + 1) % photos.length;
         const preloadSrc = photos[(slideIndex + 1) % photos.length];
-        // Only change src after the fade-out completes — changing it mid-transition
-        // causes the new image to appear at partial opacity (the flash the user sees)
-        current.addEventListener('transitionend', () => { current.src = preloadSrc; }, { once: true });
+        // Wait for the fade-out transition to finish before preloading the next src.
+        // transitionend is unreliable (can be skipped if display sleeps), so use
+        // a plain timeout just past the 1.5s CSS transition as the trigger.
+        setTimeout(() => { current.src = preloadSrc; }, 1600);
     };
 
-    // If the preloaded image is ready, swap immediately; otherwise wait for it
+    // If the preloaded image is ready, swap immediately; otherwise wait for it.
+    // Guard against a stuck onload by also setting src explicitly if needed.
     if (next.complete && next.naturalWidth > 0) {
         doSwap();
     } else {
+        if (!next.src || next.src === window.location.href) {
+            // src was never set (stalled state) — kick it off now
+            next.src = photos[(slideIndex + 1) % photos.length];
+        }
         next.onload = doSwap;
     }
 }