diff --git a/frontend/src/app/stories/[id]/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/stories/[id]/page.tsx
index b7c2146..996f31b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/stories/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/stories/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -281,8 +281,10 @@ export default function StoryReadingPage() {
       // Wait for images to load before scrolling so scrollHeight is accurate
       const waitForImagesAndScroll = () => {
         if (!contentRef.current) {
-          // Content not in DOM yet, use a small delay
-          setTimeout(performScroll, 500);
+          // Content not in DOM yet (e.g. series API still loading) — retry
+          // until the ref is available rather than jumping straight to performScroll,
+          // which would silently no-op and never set hasScrolledToPosition.
+          if (!cancelled) setTimeout(waitForImagesAndScroll, 100);
           return;
         }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/collections/CollectionReadingView.tsx b/frontend/src/components/collections/CollectionReadingView.tsx
index 24b524b..d63814c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/collections/CollectionReadingView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/collections/CollectionReadingView.tsx
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ export default function CollectionReadingView({
       // Wait for images to load before scrolling so scrollHeight is accurate
       const waitForImagesAndScroll = () => {
         if (!contentRef.current) {
-          setTimeout(performScroll, 500);
+          // Content not in DOM yet — retry until the ref is available.
+          if (!cancelled) setTimeout(waitForImagesAndScroll, 100);
           return;
         }