diff --git a/modules/Mpris.qml b/modules/Mpris.qml
index 7d1b299..17f7c7f 100644
--- a/modules/Mpris.qml
+++ b/modules/Mpris.qml
@@ -13,6 +13,21 @@ M.BarSection {
 
     readonly property MprisPlayer player: Mpris.players.values[0] ?? null
     readonly property bool playing: player?.playbackState === MprisPlaybackState.Playing
+    property string _cachedArt: ""
+    property string _artTrack: ""
+
+    // Cache art URL at root level so it's captured even when panel is hidden
+    readonly property string _artUrl: player?.trackArtUrl ?? ""
+    readonly property string _currentTrack: player?.trackTitle ?? ""
+    on_ArtUrlChanged: if (_artUrl) _cachedArt = _artUrl
+    on_CurrentTrackChanged: if (_currentTrack !== _artTrack) { _artTrack = _currentTrack; _cachedArt = _artUrl || "" }
+
+    // Preload art while panel is hidden — ensures QML image cache has the pixels
+    Image {
+        visible: false
+        source: root._cachedArt
+        asynchronous: true
+    }
 
     required property var bar
 
@@ -140,7 +155,7 @@ M.BarSection {
             // Album art
             Item {
                 width: parent.width
-                height: _artImg.status === Image.Ready ? 140 : 60
+                height: _artImg._hasArt ? 140 : 60
                 clip: true
 
                 Rectangle {
@@ -152,16 +167,16 @@ M.BarSection {
                     id: _artImg
                     anchors.fill: parent
                     fillMode: Image.PreserveAspectCrop
-                    visible: status === Image.Ready
+                    visible: _hasArt
                     asynchronous: true
+                    source: root._cachedArt
 
-                    property string _lastGoodSource: ""
-                    property string _lastTrack: ""
-                    readonly property string _artUrl: root.player?.trackArtUrl ?? ""
-                    readonly property string _track: root.player?.trackTitle ?? ""
-                    on_ArtUrlChanged: if (_artUrl) _lastGoodSource = _artUrl
-                    on_TrackChanged: if (_track !== _lastTrack) { _lastTrack = _track; _lastGoodSource = _artUrl || "" }
-                    source: _lastGoodSource
+                    property bool _hasArt: false
+                    onStatusChanged: if (status === Image.Ready) _hasArt = true
+                    Connections {
+                        target: root
+                        function on_CachedArtChanged() { if (!root._cachedArt) _artImg._hasArt = false }
+                    }
                 }
 
                 Rectangle {