diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Media/ZoomableImage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Media/ZoomableImage.tsx
index c6f0720b5..b2345822a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Media/ZoomableImage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Media/ZoomableImage.tsx
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export const ZoomableImage = forwardRef<ZoomableImageRef, ZoomableImageProps>(
       zoomIn,
       zoomOut,
       reset,
+      isFitReady
     } = useZoomTransform({ imagePath, rotation, resetSignal });
 
     useImperativeHandle(
@@ -113,6 +114,8 @@ export const ZoomableImage = forwardRef<ZoomableImageRef, ZoomableImageProps>(
               transform: `rotate(${rotation}deg)`,
               transformOrigin: 'center center',
               pointerEvents: 'none',
+              opacity: isFitReady ? 1 : 0,
+              transition: isFitReady ? 'opacity 120ms ease-out' : 'none',
             }}
           />
         </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Media/__tests__/ZoomableImage.test.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Media/__tests__/ZoomableImage.test.tsx
index dab8a45bb..a71295861 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Media/__tests__/ZoomableImage.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Media/__tests__/ZoomableImage.test.tsx
@@ -697,6 +697,31 @@ describe('ZoomableImage controlled transform behavior', () => {
     expect(image.style.height).toBe('');
   });
 
+  test('keeps the image hidden until the fit transform is ready, then fades it in', () => {
+    const { flushNextFrame } = setupManualAnimationFrames();
+
+    renderZoomableImage();
+
+    const viewport = screen.getByTestId('zoom-viewport');
+    const image = screen.getByAltText('test image');
+
+    expect(image.style.opacity).toBe('0');
+    expect(image.style.transition).toBe('none');
+
+    mockElementRect(
+      viewport,
+      { width: 500, height: 400, left: 0, top: 0 },
+      { clientWidth: 500, clientHeight: 400 },
+    );
+    mockImageDimensions(image, { width: 1000, height: 800 });
+
+    fireEvent.load(image);
+    flushNextFrame();
+
+    expect(image.style.opacity).toBe('1');
+    expect(image.style.transition).toBe('opacity 120ms ease-out');
+  });
+
   test('starts from the new image fit transform after switching images', () => {
     const { viewport, rerender } = setupScene({
       viewportSize: { width: 500, height: 400 },
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useZoomTransform.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useZoomTransform.ts
index a6d6e62e8..ca2398582 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useZoomTransform.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useZoomTransform.ts
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ export const useZoomTransform = ({
   const [isOverflowing, setIsOverflowing] = useState(false);
   const [isPanning, setIsPanning] = useState(false);
   const [isButtonZoom, setIsButtonZoom] = useState(false);
+  const [isFitReady, setIsFitReady] = useState(false);
 
   const setRawImageDimensions = useCallback((dimensions: Size | null) => {
     rawDimensionsRef.current = dimensions;
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ export const useZoomTransform = ({
       isFitInitializedRef.current = true;
       hasUserInteractedRef.current = false;
       fitRetryCountRef.current = 0;
+      setIsFitReady(true);
     }
 
     return didApply;
@@ -230,9 +232,13 @@ export const useZoomTransform = ({
         fitFrameRef.current = null;
         const applied = applyFitTransform();
 
-        if (!applied && fitRetryCountRef.current < MAX_FIT_RETRY_FRAMES) {
-          fitRetryCountRef.current += 1;
-          scheduleFitTransform(false);
+        if (!applied) {
+          if (fitRetryCountRef.current < MAX_FIT_RETRY_FRAMES) {
+            fitRetryCountRef.current += 1;
+            scheduleFitTransform(false);
+          } else {
+            setIsFitReady(true);
+          }
         }
       });
     },
@@ -297,6 +303,7 @@ export const useZoomTransform = ({
   useEffect(() => {
     setIsOverflowing(false);
     setRawImageDimensions(null);
+    setIsFitReady(false);
     resetToFit();
   }, [imagePath, resetToFit, setRawImageDimensions]);
 
@@ -556,5 +563,6 @@ export const useZoomTransform = ({
     zoomIn,
     zoomOut,
     reset: resetToFit,
+    isFitReady,
   };
 };