diff --git a/src/components/ImageCarousel.astro b/src/components/ImageCarousel.astro
index 60d9e6e..f0a8b63 100644
--- a/src/components/ImageCarousel.astro
+++ b/src/components/ImageCarousel.astro
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ const {
 } = Astro.props as Props;
 
 const imagesArray = shuffle ? shuffleArray(images) : images;
+
+// Slides kept in the layout (first visible, rest preloaded) so their eager loads actually fire; anything past this stays hidden until its turn.
+const preloadCount = Math.max(eagerCount, 2);
 ---
 
 <div class:list={[className, "relative overflow-hidden"]}>
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ const imagesArray = shuffle ? shuffleArray(images) : images;
               transitionStyle,
               transitionDuration,
               index > 0 ? "opacity-0" : "",
-              index < 2 ? "" : "hidden"
+              index < preloadCount ? "" : "hidden"
             ]}
             src={image}
             alt={
@@ -89,27 +92,53 @@ const imagesArray = shuffle ? shuffleArray(images) : images;
 </div>
 
 <script
-  define:vars={{ imageCount: imagesArray.length, carouselId: id, interval }}
+  define:vars={{
+    imageCount: imagesArray.length,
+    carouselId: id,
+    interval,
+    preloadCount
+  }}
 >
-  let currentIndex = 0;
+  window.__carousels = window.__carousels || {};
 
-  // Honour reduced-motion: leave the first image showing, no rotation.
-  const reduceMotion = window.matchMedia(
-    "(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)"
-  ).matches;
+  // Reset the carousel and (re)start it. Runs on initial load and after
+  // every page transition, so navigation always restarts the fade sequence.
+  function initCarousel() {
+    const state = (window.__carousels[carouselId] = window.__carousels[
+      carouselId
+    ] || { index: 0, timer: null });
+    state.index = 0;
+    if (state.timer) {
+      clearInterval(state.timer);
+      state.timer = null;
+    }
 
-  if (!reduceMotion) {
-    setInterval(() => {
+    const slides = Array.from(
+      document.querySelectorAll(`[data-id^="${carouselId}-"]`)
+    );
+    slides.forEach((slide, index) => {
+      slide.classList.toggle("opacity-0", index !== 0);
+      slide.classList.toggle("hidden", index >= preloadCount);
+      slide.setAttribute("aria-hidden", index === 0 ? "false" : "true");
+    });
+
+    // Honour reduced-motion: leave the first image showing, no rotation.
+    if (window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches) return;
+
+    state.timer = setInterval(() => {
       const current = document.querySelectorAll(
-        `[data-id="${carouselId}-${currentIndex}"]`
+        `[data-id="${carouselId}-${state.index}"]`
       )[0];
-      const nextIndex = (currentIndex + 1) % imageCount;
+      const nextIndex = (state.index + 1) % imageCount;
       const next = document.querySelectorAll(
         `[data-id="${carouselId}-${nextIndex}"]`
       )[0];
 
       if (!current || !next) return;
 
+      // Wait until the incoming image has loaded, or the fade pops in.
+      if (next.tagName === "IMG" && !next.complete) return;
+
       // Fade out current, fade in next
       current.classList.add("opacity-0");
       current.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
@@ -127,7 +156,10 @@ const imagesArray = shuffle ? shuffleArray(images) : images;
         preloadImage.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
       }
 
-      currentIndex = nextIndex;
+      state.index = nextIndex;
     }, interval);
   }
+
+  document.addEventListener("astro:page-load", initCarousel);
+  initCarousel();
 </script>
diff --git a/src/components/Navbar.astro b/src/components/Navbar.astro
index dd094be..b1dd646 100644
--- a/src/components/Navbar.astro
+++ b/src/components/Navbar.astro
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ const { navbarDisplay = "normal" } = Astro.props as Props;
       <div class="md:hidden">
         <button
           id="menu-toggle"
-          class="text-2xl focus:outline-none"
+          class="focus-visible:ring-primary text-2xl focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2"
           aria-label="Toggle navigation menu"
           aria-expanded="false"
           aria-controls="mobile-menu"
@@ -139,6 +139,10 @@ const { navbarDisplay = "normal" } = Astro.props as Props;
     nav = document.getElementById("nav");
     toggle = document.getElementById("menu-toggle");
 
+    // The nav persists across transitions: always start with a closed menu.
+    nav?.setAttribute("data-mobile-menu", "hidden");
+    toggle?.setAttribute("aria-expanded", "false");
+
     if (toggle && !toggle.dataset.bound) {
       toggle.dataset.bound = "true";
       toggle.addEventListener("click", () => {
diff --git a/src/pages/index.astro b/src/pages/index.astro
index a607a6e..40da87e 100644
--- a/src/pages/index.astro
+++ b/src/pages/index.astro
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ const tracks = (
           quality={5}
           height={192}
           shuffle={true}
-          eagerCount={0}
+          eagerCount={4}
           ><div class="flex h-full w-full items-center">
             <a
               href="/contact/"
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ const tracks = (
           quality={5}
           height={384}
           shuffle={true}
-          eagerCount={0}
+          eagerCount={4}
         />
       </div>
     </section>