diff --git a/lib/Epub/Epub.cpp b/lib/Epub/Epub.cpp
index cb0b1801..34e78293 100644
--- a/lib/Epub/Epub.cpp
+++ b/lib/Epub/Epub.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "Epub.h"
 
 #include <FsHelpers.h>
+#include <HalDisplay.h>
 #include <HalStorage.h>
 #include <JpegToBmpConverter.h>
 #include <Logging.h>
@@ -706,6 +707,171 @@ bool Epub::generateThumbBmp(int height) const {
   return false;
 }
 
+bool Epub::isValidThumbnailBmp(const std::string& bmpPath) {
+  if (!Storage.exists(bmpPath.c_str())) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  FsFile file = Storage.open(bmpPath.c_str());
+  if (!file) {
+    LOG_ERR("EBP", "Failed to open thumbnail BMP at path: %s", bmpPath.c_str());
+    return false;
+  }
+  size_t fileSize = file.size();
+  if (fileSize == 0) {
+    LOG_DBG("EBP", "Thumbnail BMP is empty (no cover marker) at path: %s", bmpPath.c_str());
+    file.close();
+    return false;
+  }
+  uint8_t header[2];
+  size_t bytesRead = file.read(header, 2);
+  if (bytesRead != 2) {
+    LOG_ERR("EBP", "Failed to read thumbnail BMP header at path: %s", bmpPath.c_str());
+    file.close();
+    return false;
+  }
+  file.close();
+  return header[0] == 'B' && header[1] == 'M';
+}
+
+bool Epub::generateInvalidFormatThumbBmp(int height) const {
+  const int width = height * 0.6;
+  const int rowBytes = ((width + 31) / 32) * 4;
+  const int imageSize = rowBytes * height;
+  const int fileSize = 14 + 40 + 8 + imageSize;
+  const int dataOffset = 14 + 40 + 8;
+
+  FsFile thumbBmp;
+  if (!Storage.openFileForWrite("EBP", getThumbBmpPath(height), thumbBmp)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  thumbBmp.write('B');
+  thumbBmp.write('M');
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&fileSize), 4);
+  uint32_t reserved = 0;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&reserved), 4);
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&dataOffset), 4);
+
+  uint32_t dibHeaderSize = 40;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&dibHeaderSize), 4);
+  int32_t bmpWidth = width;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&bmpWidth), 4);
+  int32_t bmpHeight = -height;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&bmpHeight), 4);
+  uint16_t planes = 1;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&planes), 2);
+  uint16_t bitsPerPixel = 1;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&bitsPerPixel), 2);
+  uint32_t compression = 0;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&compression), 4);
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&imageSize), 4);
+  int32_t ppmX = 2835;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&ppmX), 4);
+  int32_t ppmY = 2835;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&ppmY), 4);
+  uint32_t colorsUsed = 2;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&colorsUsed), 4);
+  uint32_t colorsImportant = 2;
+  thumbBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&colorsImportant), 4);
+
+  uint8_t black[4] = {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00};
+  thumbBmp.write(black, 4);
+  uint8_t white[4] = {0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0x00};
+  thumbBmp.write(white, 4);
+
+  for (int y = 0; y < height; y++) {
+    std::vector<uint8_t> rowData(rowBytes, 0xFF);
+    const int scaledY = (y * width) / height;
+    const int thickness = 2;
+    for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
+      bool drawPixel = false;
+      if (std::abs(x - scaledY) <= thickness) drawPixel = true;
+      if (std::abs(x - (width - 1 - scaledY)) <= thickness) drawPixel = true;
+      if (drawPixel) {
+        const int byteIndex = x / 8;
+        const int bitIndex = 7 - (x % 8);
+        rowData[byteIndex] &= static_cast<uint8_t>(~(1 << bitIndex));
+      }
+    }
+    thumbBmp.write(rowData.data(), rowBytes);
+  }
+
+  thumbBmp.close();
+  LOG_DBG("EBP", "Generated invalid format thumbnail BMP");
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool Epub::generateInvalidFormatCoverBmp(bool cropped) const {
+  const int hwW = static_cast<int>(HalDisplay::DISPLAY_WIDTH);
+  const int hwH = static_cast<int>(HalDisplay::DISPLAY_HEIGHT);
+  const int width = std::min(hwW, hwH);
+  const int height = std::max(hwW, hwH);
+  const int rowBytes = ((width + 31) / 32) * 4;
+  const int imageSize = rowBytes * height;
+  const int fileSize = 14 + 40 + 8 + imageSize;
+  const int dataOffset = 14 + 40 + 8;
+
+  FsFile coverBmp;
+  if (!Storage.openFileForWrite("EBP", getCoverBmpPath(cropped), coverBmp)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  coverBmp.write('B');
+  coverBmp.write('M');
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&fileSize), 4);
+  uint32_t reserved = 0;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&reserved), 4);
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&dataOffset), 4);
+
+  uint32_t dibHeaderSize = 40;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&dibHeaderSize), 4);
+  int32_t bmpWidth = width;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&bmpWidth), 4);
+  int32_t bmpHeight = -height;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&bmpHeight), 4);
+  uint16_t planes = 1;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&planes), 2);
+  uint16_t bitsPerPixel = 1;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&bitsPerPixel), 2);
+  uint32_t compression = 0;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&compression), 4);
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&imageSize), 4);
+  int32_t ppmX = 2835;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&ppmX), 4);
+  int32_t ppmY = 2835;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&ppmY), 4);
+  uint32_t colorsUsed = 2;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&colorsUsed), 4);
+  uint32_t colorsImportant = 2;
+  coverBmp.write(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(&colorsImportant), 4);
+
+  uint8_t black[4] = {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00};
+  coverBmp.write(black, 4);
+  uint8_t white[4] = {0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0x00};
+  coverBmp.write(white, 4);
+
+  for (int y = 0; y < height; y++) {
+    std::vector<uint8_t> rowData(rowBytes, 0xFF);
+    const int scaledY = (y * width) / height;
+    const int thickness = 6;
+    for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
+      bool drawPixel = false;
+      if (std::abs(x - scaledY) <= thickness) drawPixel = true;
+      if (std::abs(x - (width - 1 - scaledY)) <= thickness) drawPixel = true;
+      if (drawPixel) {
+        const int byteIndex = x / 8;
+        const int bitIndex = 7 - (x % 8);
+        rowData[byteIndex] &= static_cast<uint8_t>(~(1 << bitIndex));
+      }
+    }
+    coverBmp.write(rowData.data(), rowBytes);
+  }
+
+  coverBmp.close();
+  LOG_DBG("EBP", "Generated invalid format cover BMP");
+  return true;
+}
+
 uint8_t* Epub::readItemContentsToBytes(const std::string& itemHref, size_t* size, const bool trailingNullByte) const {
   if (itemHref.empty()) {
     LOG_DBG("EBP", "Failed to read item, empty href");
diff --git a/lib/Epub/Epub.h b/lib/Epub/Epub.h
index 9ffa8d37..15765e29 100644
--- a/lib/Epub/Epub.h
+++ b/lib/Epub/Epub.h
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ class Epub {
   std::string getThumbBmpPath() const;
   std::string getThumbBmpPath(int height) const;
   bool generateThumbBmp(int height) const;
+  bool generateInvalidFormatCoverBmp(bool cropped = false) const;
+  bool generateInvalidFormatThumbBmp(int height) const;
+  static bool isValidThumbnailBmp(const std::string& bmpPath);
   uint8_t* readItemContentsToBytes(const std::string& itemHref, size_t* size = nullptr,
                                    bool trailingNullByte = false) const;
   bool readItemContentsToStream(const std::string& itemHref, Print& out, size_t chunkSize) const;
diff --git a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
index 31a54e5d..9177cacd 100644
--- a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
+++ b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <Epub/Page.h>
 #include <Epub/blocks/TextBlock.h>
 #include <FsHelpers.h>
+#include <PlaceholderCoverGenerator.h>
 #include <GfxRenderer.h>
 #include <HalStorage.h>
 #include <I18n.h>
@@ -115,6 +116,61 @@ void EpubReaderActivity::onEnter() {
     }
   }
 
+  // Prerender covers and thumbnails on first open so Home and Sleep screens are instant.
+  {
+    int totalSteps = 0;
+    if (!Storage.exists(epub->getCoverBmpPath(false).c_str())) totalSteps++;
+    if (!Storage.exists(epub->getCoverBmpPath(true).c_str())) totalSteps++;
+    for (int i = 0; i < PRERENDER_THUMB_HEIGHTS_COUNT; i++) {
+      if (!Storage.exists(epub->getThumbBmpPath(PRERENDER_THUMB_HEIGHTS[i]).c_str())) totalSteps++;
+    }
+
+    if (totalSteps > 0) {
+      Rect popupRect = GUI.drawPopup(renderer, "Preparing book...");
+      int completedSteps = 0;
+
+      auto updateProgress = [&]() {
+        completedSteps++;
+        GUI.fillPopupProgress(renderer, popupRect, completedSteps * 100 / totalSteps);
+      };
+
+      if (!Epub::isValidThumbnailBmp(epub->getCoverBmpPath(false))) {
+        epub->generateCoverBmp(false);
+        if (!Epub::isValidThumbnailBmp(epub->getCoverBmpPath(false))) {
+          if (!PlaceholderCoverGenerator::generate(epub->getCoverBmpPath(false), epub->getTitle(), epub->getAuthor(),
+                                                   480, 800)) {
+            epub->generateInvalidFormatCoverBmp(false);
+          }
+        }
+        updateProgress();
+      }
+      if (!Epub::isValidThumbnailBmp(epub->getCoverBmpPath(true))) {
+        epub->generateCoverBmp(true);
+        if (!Epub::isValidThumbnailBmp(epub->getCoverBmpPath(true))) {
+          if (!PlaceholderCoverGenerator::generate(epub->getCoverBmpPath(true), epub->getTitle(), epub->getAuthor(),
+                                                   480, 800)) {
+            epub->generateInvalidFormatCoverBmp(true);
+          }
+        }
+        updateProgress();
+      }
+      for (int i = 0; i < PRERENDER_THUMB_HEIGHTS_COUNT; i++) {
+        if (!Epub::isValidThumbnailBmp(epub->getThumbBmpPath(PRERENDER_THUMB_HEIGHTS[i]))) {
+          epub->generateThumbBmp(PRERENDER_THUMB_HEIGHTS[i]);
+          if (!Epub::isValidThumbnailBmp(epub->getThumbBmpPath(PRERENDER_THUMB_HEIGHTS[i]))) {
+            const int thumbHeight = PRERENDER_THUMB_HEIGHTS[i];
+            const int thumbWidth = static_cast<int>(thumbHeight * 0.6);
+            if (!PlaceholderCoverGenerator::generate(epub->getThumbBmpPath(thumbHeight), epub->getTitle(),
+                                                     epub->getAuthor(), thumbWidth, thumbHeight)) {
+              epub->generateInvalidFormatThumbBmp(thumbHeight);
+            }
+          }
+          updateProgress();
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   // Save current epub as last opened epub and add to recent books
   APP_STATE.openEpubPath = epub->getPath();
   APP_STATE.saveToFile();