diff --git a/ui/src/lib/audio.svelte.ts b/ui/src/lib/audio.svelte.ts
index fc74338..0299c74 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/audio.svelte.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/audio.svelte.ts
@@ -8,9 +8,32 @@
  *
  * Uses Svelte 5 runes ($state / $derived) — import only from .svelte files
  * or other .svelte.ts files.
+ *
+ * ── State machine ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+ *
+ * Current chapter (status):
+ *   idle  →  loading  →  ready  (fast path: audio exists in MinIO)
+ *   idle  →  loading  →  generating  →  ready  (slow path: Kokoro TTS)
+ *   any  →  error
+ *
+ * Next chapter pre-fetch (nextStatus):
+ *   'none'        – no next chapter, or auto-next is off
+ *   'prefetching' – POST /api/audio running for the next chapter
+ *   'prefetched'  – next chapter audio is ready in MinIO
+ *   'failed'      – pre-generation failed (will retry on navigate)
+ *
+ * Auto-next transition:
+ *   onended fires  →  navigate to next chapter URL
+ *     ↳ new chapter page mounts
+ *       • if nextStatus === 'prefetched'  → presign + play immediately
+ *       • else                            → normal startPlayback() flow
+ *
+ * Pre-fetch is triggered when currentTime / duration >= 0.9 (90% mark).
+ * It only runs once per chapter (guarded by nextStatus !== 'none').
  */
 
 export type AudioStatus = 'idle' | 'loading' | 'generating' | 'ready' | 'error';
+export type NextStatus = 'none' | 'prefetching' | 'prefetched' | 'failed';
 
 class AudioStore {
 	// ── What is loaded ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -56,6 +79,8 @@ class AudioStore {
 	/**
 	 * The next chapter number for the currently playing chapter, or null if
 	 * there is no next chapter.  Written by the chapter page's AudioPlayer.
+	 * Stored here (not cleared on unmount) so onended can still read it after
+	 * the component unmounts due to {#key} re-render on navigation.
 	 */
 	nextChapter = $state<number | null>(null);
 
@@ -66,6 +91,28 @@ class AudioStore {
 	 */
 	autoStartPending = $state(false);
 
+	// ── Next-chapter pre-fetch state ─────────────────────────────────────────
+	/**
+	 * State of the background pre-generation for the next chapter.
+	 * 'none'        – nothing started (default / no next chapter)
+	 * 'prefetching' – currently running POST /api/audio for next chapter
+	 * 'prefetched'  – next chapter audio confirmed ready in MinIO
+	 * 'failed'      – pre-generation failed (fallback: generate on navigate)
+	 */
+	nextStatus = $state<NextStatus>('none');
+
+	/**
+	 * The presigned URL obtained during pre-fetch.  When the user navigates
+	 * to the next chapter, AudioPlayer picks this up and skips straight to play.
+	 */
+	nextAudioUrl = $state('');
+
+	/** Progress value (0–100) shown while pre-generating the next chapter. */
+	nextProgress = $state(0);
+
+	/** Which chapter number the pre-fetch state above belongs to. */
+	nextChapterPrefetched = $state<number | null>(null);
+
 	/** Whether the mini-bar at the bottom is visible */
 	get active(): boolean {
 		return this.status === 'ready' || this.status === 'generating' || this.status === 'loading';
@@ -75,6 +122,14 @@ class AudioStore {
 	isCurrentChapter(slug: string, chapter: number): boolean {
 		return this.slug === slug && this.chapter === chapter;
 	}
+
+	/** Reset all next-chapter pre-fetch state. */
+	resetNextPrefetch() {
+		this.nextStatus = 'none';
+		this.nextAudioUrl = '';
+		this.nextProgress = 0;
+		this.nextChapterPrefetched = null;
+	}
 }
 
 export const audioStore = new AudioStore();
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte
index ac1a244..ac6df9a 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte
@@ -6,19 +6,27 @@
 	 * which is shared with the layout's persistent <audio> element so audio
 	 * survives SvelteKit navigations.
 	 *
-	 * On "Play narration" click:
+	 * ── Play flow ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	 * On "Play narration" click / auto-start:
 	 *   1. Populate store metadata (slug, chapter, titles, voice, speed).
-	 *   2. Try GET /api/presign/audio — if 200, set audioUrl → layout plays.
-	 *   3. If 404, POST /api/audio/:slug/:n to generate. Drive pseudo progress bar
-	 *      via audioStore.progress. On success, presign again and set audioUrl.
+	 *   2. If the pre-fetch already landed (nextStatus='prefetched' AND
+	 *      nextChapterPrefetched === chapter), use the cached URL immediately.
+	 *   3. Otherwise try GET /api/presign/audio — if 200, set audioUrl → layout plays.
+	 *   4. If 404, POST /api/audio/:slug/:n to generate. Drive pseudo progress bar.
+	 *      On success, presign again and set audioUrl.
 	 *
-	 * When the same chapter is already loaded/playing: show inline playback state.
-	 * When a different chapter is playing: show "Now playing Ch.X" with a
-	 * "Load this chapter" button.
+	 * ── Pre-fetch at 90% ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	 * A $derived watches currentTime/duration.  When >= 90% and autoNext is on
+	 * and there IS a next chapter, it kicks off prefetchNext():
+	 *   • Calls POST /api/audio for next chapter (sets nextStatus='prefetching')
+	 *   • On success, presigns and stores URL in audioStore.nextAudioUrl
+	 *     (sets nextStatus='prefetched')
+	 *   • On failure, sets nextStatus='failed'
 	 *
-	 * Auto-next: when audioStore.autoNext is true, the layout navigates to the
-	 * next chapter on track end and sets autoStartPending = true. This component
-	 * detects that flag on mount and auto-starts playback.
+	 * ── Auto-next ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	 * layout.svelte onended → sets autoStartPending=true → navigates.
+	 * New chapter's AudioPlayer mounts → sees autoStartPending → startPlayback()
+	 * which uses the prefetched URL if available.
 	 */
 
 	import { audioStore } from '$lib/audio.svelte';
@@ -45,14 +53,11 @@
 	}: Props = $props();
 
 	// Keep nextChapter in the store so the layout's onended can navigate.
-	// Run as an effect so it stays in sync if the prop ever changes.
-	// On unmount, clear it so a stale value can't trigger navigation after
-	// the user leaves the chapter page.
+	// NOTE: we do NOT clear on unmount here — the store retains the value so
+	// onended (which may fire after {#key} unmounts this component) can still
+	// read it.  The value is superseded when the new chapter mounts.
 	$effect(() => {
 		audioStore.nextChapter = nextChapter ?? null;
-		return () => {
-			audioStore.nextChapter = null;
-		};
 	});
 
 	// Auto-start: if the layout navigated here via auto-next, kick off playback.
@@ -63,6 +68,40 @@
 		}
 	});
 
+	// Reset next-chapter prefetch state when this chapter changes (new page).
+	// We only reset if the prefetch is for a *different* chapter than nextChapter
+	// (i.e. stale data from a prior page).
+	$effect(() => {
+		const prefetchedFor = audioStore.nextChapterPrefetched;
+		if (prefetchedFor !== null && prefetchedFor !== (nextChapter ?? null)) {
+			audioStore.resetNextPrefetch();
+		}
+	});
+
+	// ── 90% pre-fetch trigger ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// Watch playback progress; when >= 90% of current chapter, pre-generate
+	// the next chapter's audio so it's ready when we navigate.
+	$effect(() => {
+		const ct = audioStore.currentTime;
+		const dur = audioStore.duration;
+		const isCurrentlyPlaying = audioStore.isCurrentChapter(slug, chapter);
+
+		if (
+			!isCurrentlyPlaying ||
+			!audioStore.autoNext ||
+			nextChapter === null ||
+			nextChapter === undefined ||
+			dur <= 0 ||
+			ct / dur < 0.9 ||
+			audioStore.nextStatus !== 'none'
+		) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		// Trigger exactly once (nextStatus transitions away from 'none')
+		prefetchNext();
+	});
+
 	// ── Pseudo progress helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	let progressRafId = 0;
 
@@ -107,14 +146,50 @@
 		stopProgress();
 	}
 
+	// ── Next-chapter pseudo-progress helpers ──────────────────────────────────
+	let nextProgressRafId = 0;
+
+	function startNextProgress() {
+		audioStore.nextProgress = 0;
+		let last = performance.now();
+
+		function tick(now: number) {
+			const dt = (now - last) / 1000;
+			last = now;
+			let rate: number;
+			if (audioStore.nextProgress < 30) rate = 4;
+			else if (audioStore.nextProgress < 60) rate = 12;
+			else if (audioStore.nextProgress < 80) rate = 4;
+			else rate = 0.3;
+
+			audioStore.nextProgress = Math.min(audioStore.nextProgress + rate * dt, 99);
+			if (audioStore.nextProgress < 99) {
+				nextProgressRafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+			}
+		}
+		nextProgressRafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+	}
+
+	function stopNextProgress() {
+		if (nextProgressRafId) {
+			cancelAnimationFrame(nextProgressRafId);
+			nextProgressRafId = 0;
+		}
+	}
+
 	// ── API helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-	async function tryPresign(): Promise<string | null> {
+	async function tryPresign(
+		targetSlug: string,
+		targetChapter: number,
+		targetVoice: string,
+		targetSpeed: number
+	): Promise<string | null> {
 		const params = new URLSearchParams({
-			slug,
-			n: String(chapter),
-			voice,
-			speed: String(speed)
+			slug: targetSlug,
+			n: String(targetChapter),
+			voice: targetVoice,
+			speed: String(targetSpeed)
 		});
 		const res = await fetch(`/api/presign/audio?${params}`);
 		if (res.status === 404) return null;
@@ -123,6 +198,49 @@
 		return data.url;
 	}
 
+	// ── Pre-fetch next chapter ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+	async function prefetchNext() {
+		if (nextChapter === null || nextChapter === undefined) return;
+		if (audioStore.nextStatus !== 'none') return; // already running or done
+
+		audioStore.nextStatus = 'prefetching';
+		audioStore.nextChapterPrefetched = nextChapter;
+		startNextProgress();
+
+		try {
+			// Fast path: already generated
+			const url = await tryPresign(slug, nextChapter, voice, speed);
+			if (url) {
+				stopNextProgress();
+				audioStore.nextProgress = 100;
+				audioStore.nextAudioUrl = url;
+				audioStore.nextStatus = 'prefetched';
+				return;
+			}
+
+			// Slow path: trigger Kokoro generation in background
+			const res = await fetch(`/api/audio/${slug}/${nextChapter}`, {
+				method: 'POST',
+				headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+				body: JSON.stringify({ voice, speed })
+			});
+			if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Prefetch generation failed: HTTP ${res.status}`);
+
+			stopNextProgress();
+			audioStore.nextProgress = 100;
+
+			const url2 = await tryPresign(slug, nextChapter, voice, speed);
+			if (!url2) throw new Error('Prefetch: audio generated but presign returned 404');
+
+			audioStore.nextAudioUrl = url2;
+			audioStore.nextStatus = 'prefetched';
+		} catch {
+			stopNextProgress();
+			audioStore.nextStatus = 'failed';
+		}
+	}
+
 	// ── Core play flow ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 	async function startPlayback() {
@@ -133,13 +251,28 @@
 		audioStore.bookTitle = bookTitle;
 		audioStore.voice = voice;
 		audioStore.speed = speed;
-		// nextChapter is kept in sync by the $effect above — no need to write it here
+
 		audioStore.status = 'loading';
 		audioStore.errorMsg = '';
 
 		try {
-			// Fast path: audio already in MinIO.
-			const url = await tryPresign();
+			// Fast path A: pre-fetch already landed for THIS chapter.
+			if (
+				audioStore.nextStatus === 'prefetched' &&
+				audioStore.nextChapterPrefetched === chapter &&
+				audioStore.nextAudioUrl
+			) {
+				const url = audioStore.nextAudioUrl;
+				// Consume the pre-fetch — reset so it doesn't carry over
+				audioStore.resetNextPrefetch();
+				audioStore.audioUrl = url;
+				audioStore.status = 'ready';
+				// Don't restore saved time for auto-next; position is 0
+				return;
+			}
+
+			// Fast path B: audio already in MinIO (presign check).
+			const url = await tryPresign(slug, chapter, voice, speed);
 			if (url) {
 				audioStore.audioUrl = url;
 				audioStore.status = 'ready';
@@ -161,7 +294,7 @@
 
 			await finishProgress();
 
-			const url2 = await tryPresign();
+			const url2 = await tryPresign(slug, chapter, voice, speed);
 			if (!url2) throw new Error('Audio generated but presign returned 404');
 			audioStore.audioUrl = url2;
 			audioStore.status = 'ready';
@@ -303,6 +436,30 @@
 				</button>
 			{/if}
 		</div>
+
+		<!-- Next chapter pre-fetch status (only when auto-next is on) -->
+		{#if audioStore.autoNext && nextChapter !== null && nextChapter !== undefined}
+			<div class="mt-2">
+				{#if audioStore.nextStatus === 'prefetching'}
+					<div class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-zinc-500">
+						<svg class="w-3 h-3 animate-spin flex-shrink-0" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+							<circle class="opacity-25" cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="4"></circle>
+							<path class="opacity-75" fill="currentColor" d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4z"></path>
+						</svg>
+						<span>Preparing Ch.{nextChapter}… {Math.round(audioStore.nextProgress)}%</span>
+					</div>
+				{:else if audioStore.nextStatus === 'prefetched'}
+					<p class="text-xs text-zinc-500 flex items-center gap-1">
+						<svg class="w-3 h-3 text-amber-400 flex-shrink-0" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+							<path d="M9 16.17L4.83 12l-1.42 1.41L9 19 21 7l-1.41-1.41L9 16.17z"/>
+						</svg>
+						Ch.{nextChapter} ready
+					</p>
+				{:else if audioStore.nextStatus === 'failed'}
+					<p class="text-xs text-zinc-600">Ch.{nextChapter} will generate on navigate</p>
+				{/if}
+			</div>
+		{/if}
 	{/if}
 
 	{:else if audioStore.active}
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index db8360c..f56b6ef 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -179,11 +179,16 @@
 		audioStore.isPlaying = false;
 		saveAudioTime();
 		if (audioStore.autoNext && audioStore.nextChapter !== null && audioStore.slug) {
-				audioStore.autoStartPending = true;
-				goto(`/books/${audioStore.slug}/chapters/${audioStore.nextChapter}`).catch(() => {
-					audioStore.autoStartPending = false;
-				});
-			}
+			// Capture values synchronously before any async work — the AudioPlayer
+			// component will unmount during navigation, but we've already read what
+			// we need.
+			const targetSlug = audioStore.slug;
+			const targetChapter = audioStore.nextChapter;
+			audioStore.autoStartPending = true;
+			goto(`/books/${targetSlug}/chapters/${targetChapter}`).catch(() => {
+				audioStore.autoStartPending = false;
+			});
+		}
 	}}
 	preload="metadata"
 	style="display:none"
@@ -341,21 +346,33 @@
 					{audioStore.speed}×
 				</button>
 
-				<!-- Auto-next toggle -->
-				<button
-					onclick={() => (audioStore.autoNext = !audioStore.autoNext)}
-					class="p-1.5 rounded flex-shrink-0 transition-colors {audioStore.autoNext
-						? 'text-amber-400 bg-amber-400/15 hover:bg-amber-400/25'
-						: 'text-zinc-600 hover:text-zinc-300 hover:bg-zinc-800'}"
-					title={audioStore.autoNext ? 'Auto-next on' : 'Auto-next off'}
-					aria-label="Auto-next {audioStore.autoNext ? 'on' : 'off'}"
-					aria-pressed={audioStore.autoNext}
-				>
-					<!-- "skip to end" / auto-advance icon -->
-					<svg class="w-4 h-4" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-						<path d="M6 18l8.5-6L6 6v12zm8.5-6L23 6v12l-8.5-6z"/>
-					</svg>
-				</button>
+			<!-- Auto-next toggle (with prefetch indicator) -->
+			<button
+				onclick={() => (audioStore.autoNext = !audioStore.autoNext)}
+				class="relative p-1.5 rounded flex-shrink-0 transition-colors {audioStore.autoNext
+					? 'text-amber-400 bg-amber-400/15 hover:bg-amber-400/25'
+					: 'text-zinc-600 hover:text-zinc-300 hover:bg-zinc-800'}"
+				title={audioStore.autoNext
+					? audioStore.nextStatus === 'prefetched'
+						? `Auto-next on — Ch.${audioStore.nextChapter} ready`
+						: audioStore.nextStatus === 'prefetching'
+							? `Auto-next on — preparing Ch.${audioStore.nextChapter}…`
+							: 'Auto-next on'
+					: 'Auto-next off'}
+				aria-label="Auto-next {audioStore.autoNext ? 'on' : 'off'}"
+				aria-pressed={audioStore.autoNext}
+			>
+				<!-- "skip to end" / auto-advance icon -->
+				<svg class="w-4 h-4" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+					<path d="M6 18l8.5-6L6 6v12zm8.5-6L23 6v12l-8.5-6z"/>
+				</svg>
+				<!-- Prefetch status dot -->
+				{#if audioStore.autoNext && audioStore.nextStatus === 'prefetching'}
+					<span class="absolute top-0.5 right-0.5 w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-amber-400 animate-pulse"></span>
+				{:else if audioStore.autoNext && audioStore.nextStatus === 'prefetched'}
+					<span class="absolute top-0.5 right-0.5 w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-green-400"></span>
+				{/if}
+			</button>
 			{:else if audioStore.status === 'generating'}
 				<!-- Spinner during generation -->
 				<svg class="w-6 h-6 text-amber-400 animate-spin flex-shrink-0" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24">