diff --git a/src/app/components/ArticleItem.svelte b/src/app/components/ArticleItem.svelte
index ed75994f..184c2e01 100644
--- a/src/app/components/ArticleItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/ArticleItem.svelte
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   import {getAddress} from "@welshman/util"
   import {Article} from "@welshman/domain"
   import Link from "@lib/components/Link.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import Content from "@app/components/Content.svelte"
   import ProfileLink from "@app/components/ProfileLink.svelte"
   import ArticleActions from "@app/components/ArticleActions.svelte"
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@
   const image = $derived(article.image())
 </script>
 
-<div data-component="ArticleItem" class="cv relative w-full card card-interactive">
+<Cv data-component="ArticleItem" class="relative w-full card card-interactive">
   <!-- An overlay rather than a wrapper: the card carries a profile button and the room and action
        links, and none of those may sit inside an anchor. -->
   <Link class="absolute inset-0 rounded-2xl" href={path} aria-label={title || "Untitled"} />
@@ -58,4 +59,4 @@
       </div>
     </div>
   </div>
-</div>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/CalendarEventItem.svelte b/src/app/components/CalendarEventItem.svelte
index 40b7cc8c..c12f15f1 100644
--- a/src/app/components/CalendarEventItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/CalendarEventItem.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import type {TrustedEvent} from "@welshman/util"
   import {getAddress, tagValue, tagSpec} from "@welshman/util"
   import Link from "@lib/components/Link.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import CalendarEventActions from "@app/components/CalendarEventActions.svelte"
   import type {FeedContext} from "@app/feeds"
   import CalendarEventHeader from "@app/components/CalendarEventHeader.svelte"
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@
   const h = $derived(tagValue(tagSpec("h"), event.tags))
 </script>
 
-<Link class="cv relative flex flex-col gap-3 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
+<Cv tag={Link} class="relative flex flex-col gap-3 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
   <UnreadDot {path} class="absolute right-3 top-3" />
   <CalendarEventHeader {event} />
   <div class="flex w-full flex-col items-end justify-between gap-2 sm:flex-row">
@@ -34,4 +35,4 @@
     </span>
     <CalendarEventActions showActivity {url} {event} {context} />
   </div>
-</Link>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/ClassifiedItem.svelte b/src/app/components/ClassifiedItem.svelte
index 604a8b2d..d8ba7a8f 100644
--- a/src/app/components/ClassifiedItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/ClassifiedItem.svelte
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   import {getAddress} from "@welshman/util"
   import {Classified} from "@welshman/domain"
   import Link from "@lib/components/Link.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import CurrencySymbol from "@lib/components/CurrencySymbol.svelte"
   import {reader} from "@app/core"
   import ContentLinkBlock from "@app/components/ContentLinkBlock.svelte"
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@
   const price = $derived(classified.price())
 </script>
 
-<Link class="cv relative flex flex-col gap-2 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
+<Cv tag={Link} class="relative flex flex-col gap-2 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
   <UnreadDot {path} class="absolute right-3 top-3" />
   {#if title}
     <div class="flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-2">
@@ -64,4 +65,4 @@
     </span>
     <ClassifiedActions showActivity {url} {event} {context} />
   </div>
-</Link>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/GoalItem.svelte b/src/app/components/GoalItem.svelte
index ec818aac..3429f778 100644
--- a/src/app/components/GoalItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/GoalItem.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import type {TrustedEvent} from "@welshman/util"
   import {ZapGoal} from "@welshman/domain"
   import Link from "@lib/components/Link.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import {reader} from "@app/core"
   import Content from "@app/components/Content.svelte"
   import ProfileLink from "@app/components/ProfileLink.svelte"
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@
   const h = goal.room()
 </script>
 
-<Link class="cv relative flex flex-col gap-2 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
+<Cv tag={Link} class="relative flex flex-col gap-2 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
   <UnreadDot {path} class="absolute right-3 top-3" />
   <p class="text-2xl">{title}</p>
   <Content
@@ -47,4 +48,4 @@
     </span>
     <GoalActions showActivity {url} {event} {context} />
   </div>
-</Link>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/NoteCard.svelte b/src/app/components/NoteCard.svelte
index 1968a30c..e5a36afe 100644
--- a/src/app/components/NoteCard.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/NoteCard.svelte
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
   let muted = $state($isEventMuted(event))
 </script>
 
-<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 {restProps.class}" style={restProps.style}>
+<div {...restProps} class={cx("flex flex-col gap-2", restProps.class)}>
   {#if muted}
     <div class="flex items-center justify-between">
       <div class="flex gap-2 relative">
diff --git a/src/app/components/NoteItem.svelte b/src/app/components/NoteItem.svelte
index 67c621c8..10bd4248 100644
--- a/src/app/components/NoteItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/NoteItem.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   import SmileCircle from "@assets/icons/smile-circle.svg?dataurl"
   import Icon from "@lib/components/Icon.svelte"
   import EmojiButton from "@lib/components/EmojiButton.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import NoteContent from "@app/components/NoteContent.svelte"
   import {publishReaction, retractReaction} from "@app/reactions"
   import NoteCard from "@app/components/NoteCard.svelte"
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@
   const onEmoji = (emoji: NativeEmoji) => createReaction({content: emoji.unicode, tags: []})
 </script>
 
-<NoteCard {event} {url} class="cv card card-interactive">
+<Cv tag={NoteCard} {event} {url} class="card card-interactive">
   <NoteContent {event} expandMode="inline" />
   <div class="flex w-full justify-between gap-2">
     <ReactionSummary
@@ -52,4 +53,4 @@
     </ReactionSummary>
     {@render children?.()}
   </div>
-</NoteCard>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/PeopleItem.svelte b/src/app/components/PeopleItem.svelte
index 2ef83932..8f71d675 100644
--- a/src/app/components/PeopleItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/PeopleItem.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import UserCircle from "@assets/icons/user-circle.svg?dataurl"
   import Icon from "@lib/components/Icon.svelte"
   import Link from "@lib/components/Link.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import Profile from "@app/components/Profile.svelte"
   import ProfileAbout from "@app/components/ProfileAbout.svelte"
   import ProfileBadges from "@app/components/ProfileBadges.svelte"
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@
   const {pubkey, url}: Props = $props()
 </script>
 
-<div class="cv card card-interactive flex flex-col gap-4">
+<Cv class="card card-interactive flex flex-col gap-4">
   <div class="flex justify-between">
     <Profile {pubkey} {url} />
     <Link href={makeProfilePath(pubkey)} class="button button-primary hidden sm:flex">
@@ -29,4 +30,4 @@
     <Icon icon={UserCircle} />
     View Profile
   </Link>
-</div>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/PollItem.svelte b/src/app/components/PollItem.svelte
index 379ff4d2..1a41d2a0 100644
--- a/src/app/components/PollItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/PollItem.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import type {TrustedEvent} from "@welshman/util"
   import {tagSpec, tagValue} from "@welshman/util"
   import Link from "@lib/components/Link.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import NoteContent from "@app/components/NoteContent.svelte"
   import PollActions from "@app/components/PollActions.svelte"
   import type {FeedContext} from "@app/feeds"
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@
   const h = tagValue(tagSpec("h"), event.tags)
 </script>
 
-<Link class="cv relative flex flex-col gap-2 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
+<Cv tag={Link} class="relative flex flex-col gap-2 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
   <UnreadDot {path} class="absolute right-3 top-3" />
   <NoteContent {event} {url} />
   <div class="flex w-full flex-col items-end justify-between gap-2 sm:flex-row">
@@ -34,4 +35,4 @@
     </span>
     <PollActions showActivity {url} {event} {context} />
   </div>
-</Link>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/RecentConversation.svelte b/src/app/components/RecentConversation.svelte
index b5a93d59..6268ce79 100644
--- a/src/app/components/RecentConversation.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/RecentConversation.svelte
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
   import AltArrowRight from "@assets/icons/alt-arrow-right.svg?dataurl"
   import Icon from "@lib/components/Icon.svelte"
   import Button from "@lib/components/Button.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import NoteContentMinimal from "@app/components/NoteContentMinimal.svelte"
   import ProfileCircle from "@app/components/ProfileCircle.svelte"
   import RoomNameWithImage from "@app/components/RoomNameWithImage.svelte"
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@
   const onClick = () => navigate(h ? makeRoomPath(url, h) : makeSpaceChatPath(url))
 </script>
 
-<Button class="cv card card-interactive" onclick={onClick}>
+<Cv tag={Button} class="card card-interactive" onclick={onClick}>
   <div class="flex flex-col gap-3">
     <div class="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm">
       {#if h}
@@ -55,4 +56,4 @@
       </Button>
     </div>
   </div>
-</Button>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/ReportItem.svelte b/src/app/components/ReportItem.svelte
index eadc05df..c580a8ac 100644
--- a/src/app/components/ReportItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/ReportItem.svelte
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   import {LOCAL_RELAY_URL} from "@welshman/net"
   import type {TrustedEvent} from "@welshman/util"
   import Card from "@lib/components/Card.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import Button from "@lib/components/Button.svelte"
   import Profile from "@app/components/Profile.svelte"
   import ProfileName from "@app/components/ProfileName.svelte"
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@
   }
 </script>
 
-<Card sm class="cv flex flex-col gap-4">
+<Cv tag={Card} sm class="flex flex-col gap-4">
   <div class="flex justify-between">
     <div>
       <ProfileName pubkey={event.pubkey} {url} />
@@ -80,4 +81,4 @@
       <Profile pubkey={ptag[1]} />
     {/if}
   </div>
-</Card>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/app/components/ThreadBoardItem.svelte b/src/app/components/ThreadBoardItem.svelte
index 1c070417..68141f05 100644
--- a/src/app/components/ThreadBoardItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/ThreadBoardItem.svelte
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   import type {TrustedEvent} from "@welshman/util"
   import {COMMENT, tagSpec, tagValue} from "@welshman/util"
   import Link from "@lib/components/Link.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import ProfileCircle from "@app/components/ProfileCircle.svelte"
   import ProfileName from "@app/components/ProfileName.svelte"
   import UnreadDot from "@app/components/UnreadDot.svelte"
@@ -30,9 +31,10 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if stacked}
-  <Link
+  <Cv
+    tag={Link}
     href={path}
-    class="cv hover:bg-surface-less flex w-full flex-col gap-2 border-b border-solid border-line px-4 py-3 text-left text-sm transition-colors">
+    class="hover:bg-surface-less flex w-full flex-col gap-2 border-b border-solid border-line px-4 py-3 text-left text-sm transition-colors">
     <p class="truncate font-medium">
       <UnreadDot {path} class="mr-1" />{title || "Untitled thread"}
     </p>
@@ -46,7 +48,7 @@
       <span>{replyCount} {replyCount === 1 ? "reply" : "replies"}</span>
       <span>{formatTimestamp(lastActive)}</span>
     </div>
-  </Link>
+  </Cv>
 {:else}
   <tr
     onclick={onClick}
diff --git a/src/app/components/ThreadItem.svelte b/src/app/components/ThreadItem.svelte
index 5db9ad19..677d6e7c 100644
--- a/src/app/components/ThreadItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/ThreadItem.svelte
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   import type {TrustedEvent} from "@welshman/util"
   import {tagSpec, tagValue} from "@welshman/util"
   import Link from "@lib/components/Link.svelte"
+  import Cv from "@lib/components/Cv.svelte"
   import Content from "@app/components/Content.svelte"
   import ProfileLink from "@app/components/ProfileLink.svelte"
   import ThreadActions from "@app/components/ThreadActions.svelte"
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@
   const h = tagValue(tagSpec("h"), event.tags)
 </script>
 
-<Link class="cv relative flex flex-col gap-2 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
+<Cv tag={Link} class="relative flex flex-col gap-2 card card-interactive w-full" href={path}>
   <UnreadDot {path} class="absolute right-3 top-3" />
   {#if title}
     <div class="flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-2">
@@ -49,4 +50,4 @@
     </span>
     <ThreadActions showActivity {url} {event} {context} />
   </div>
-</Link>
+</Cv>
diff --git a/src/lib/components/Cv.svelte b/src/lib/components/Cv.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3340d0ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/components/Cv.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+<script lang="ts" module>
+  import type {Maybe} from "@welshman/lib"
+
+  let instance: Maybe<IntersectionObserver>
+
+  /** Browsers only paint a `content-visibility: auto` element within half a viewport of the scroll
+   * position, which a fast scroll outruns, leaving empty cards behind. There is no css control over
+   * that distance, so the element is painted two viewports ahead instead. The observer has to watch
+   * the element carrying `cv` — a descendant of one is inside the subtree being skipped, which is
+   * why the class and the attachment live in the same component. */
+  const renderAhead = (element: HTMLElement) => {
+    const observer = (instance ||= new IntersectionObserver(
+      entries => {
+        for (const entry of entries) {
+          const target = entry.target as HTMLElement
+
+          target.style.contentVisibility = entry.isIntersecting ? "visible" : ""
+        }
+      },
+      {rootMargin: "200% 0px"},
+    ))
+
+    observer.observe(element)
+
+    return () => observer.unobserve(element)
+  }
+</script>
+
+<script lang="ts">
+  import type {Component, Snippet} from "svelte"
+  import cx from "classnames"
+
+  // The root of anything rendered in a long list. `cv` lets the browser skip an offscreen one,
+  // and `renderAhead` is what keeps a fast scroll from outrunning that; `tag` takes whatever the
+  // item was already using as its root, so nothing gains a wrapper element and everything else
+  // passes through to it.
+  type Props = {
+    children?: Snippet
+    tag?: string | Component<any>
+    class?: string
+    [key: string]: any
+  }
+
+  const {children, tag = "div", ...restProps}: Props = $props()
+
+  const className = $derived(cx("cv", restProps.class))
+</script>
+
+{#if typeof tag === "string"}
+  <svelte:element this={tag} {...restProps} class={className} {@attach renderAhead}>
+    {@render children?.()}
+  </svelte:element>
+{:else}
+  {@const Host = tag}
+  <Host {...restProps} class={className} {@attach renderAhead}>
+    {@render children?.()}
+  </Host>
+{/if}
diff --git a/src/lib/components/base.css b/src/lib/components/base.css
index 4adb1e4c..2b631bc6 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/base.css
+++ b/src/lib/components/base.css
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@
 @utility superheading {
   @apply font-heading text-center text-4xl font-extrabold;
 }
+/* Applied by Cv.svelte, which pairs it with the observer that paints ahead of a fast scroll.
+   Nothing else should reach for it. */
 @utility cv {
   content-visibility: auto;
 }