diff --git a/apps/client/lib/src/widgets/chat_panel/chat_message_list.dart b/apps/client/lib/src/widgets/chat_panel/chat_message_list.dart
index 036bbc2d..b6ec5035 100644
--- a/apps/client/lib/src/widgets/chat_panel/chat_message_list.dart
+++ b/apps/client/lib/src/widgets/chat_panel/chat_message_list.dart
@@ -252,6 +252,12 @@ class ChatMessageList extends ConsumerWidget {
       child: ListView.builder(
         controller: scrollController,
         padding: const EdgeInsets.only(bottom: 16),
+        // Pre-build ~one viewport of off-screen messages on each side so that
+        // momentum scrolling doesn't flash blank space while items mount. The
+        // Flutter default of 250 is too tight for chat where rows include
+        // images, reactions, and reply quotes that each take a frame to lay
+        // out. Tuned conservatively to keep memory in check on long histories.
+        cacheExtent: 600,
         itemCount: messages.length + 1,
         itemBuilder: (context, index) {
           if (index == 0) {