diff --git a/assets/css/loading.css b/assets/css/loading.css
index a27dba709c..b1137d6fb4 100644
--- a/assets/css/loading.css
+++ b/assets/css/loading.css
@@ -191,19 +191,19 @@ img[loading="lazy"].loaded {
   width: 80%;
 }
 
-/* Intersection Observer fade-in - only animate when JS is loaded */
-.js-loaded .fade-in-on-scroll {
-  opacity: 0;
-  transform: translateY(20px);
-  transition: opacity 0.5s ease-out, transform 0.5s ease-out;
-}
-
-.js-loaded .fade-in-on-scroll.visible,
+/* Never hide unread content: static renderers may never scroll it into view. */
 .fade-in-on-scroll {
   opacity: 1;
   transform: translateY(0);
 }
 
+/* Animate once on intersection, without a timer revealing offscreen sections. */
+@media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
+  .js-loaded .fade-in-on-scroll.visible {
+    animation: fade-in 0.5s ease-out;
+  }
+}
+
 /* Reduce motion for accessibility */
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
   *,
diff --git a/assets/js/loading.js b/assets/js/loading.js
index 413c0cdcb8..80ee956325 100644
--- a/assets/js/loading.js
+++ b/assets/js/loading.js
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
 
   // Intersection Observer for fade-in animations
   function setupScrollAnimations() {
+    const animatedElements = document.querySelectorAll('.fade-in-on-scroll');
+    // Content stays visible by default; intersection only adds an animation.
+    if (!('IntersectionObserver' in window)) return;
+
     const observerOptions = {
       threshold: 0.1,
       rootMargin: '0px 0px -50px 0px'
@@ -41,7 +45,6 @@
       });
     }, observerOptions);
 
-    const animatedElements = document.querySelectorAll('.fade-in-on-scroll');
     animatedElements.forEach(el => observer.observe(el));
   }
 
diff --git a/tests/test_loading.js b/tests/test_loading.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c0d2e5e7ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_loading.js
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+// Run with: node --test tests/test_loading.js
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const { readFileSync } = require('node:fs');
+const { join } = require('node:path');
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+const vm = require('node:vm');
+
+const source = readFileSync(join(__dirname, '../assets/js/loading.js'), 'utf8');
+
+function setup(withObserver = true) {
+  const classes = new Set();
+  const element = { classList: { add: value => classes.add(value) } };
+  const timers = [];
+  let intersect;
+  const observed = [];
+  const unobserved = [];
+  const window = { addEventListener() {} };
+  if (withObserver) {
+    window.IntersectionObserver = class {
+      constructor(callback) { intersect = callback; }
+      observe(el) { observed.push(el); }
+      unobserve(el) { unobserved.push(el); }
+    };
+  }
+  vm.runInNewContext(source, {
+    window,
+    IntersectionObserver: window.IntersectionObserver,
+    MutationObserver: class { observe() {} },
+    document: {
+      readyState: 'complete',
+      body: {},
+      documentElement: { classList: { add() {} } },
+      querySelectorAll: selector => selector === '.fade-in-on-scroll' ? [element] : [],
+    },
+    setTimeout: (callback, delay) => timers.push({ callback, delay }),
+  });
+  return { classes, element, timers, intersect, observed, unobserved };
+}
+
+test('slow readers retain the intersection-triggered animation without a reveal timer', () => {
+  const state = setup();
+  assert.equal(state.timers.length, 0, 'do not reveal offscreen sections on a clock');
+  assert.deepEqual(state.observed, [state.element]);
+  state.intersect([{ target: state.element, isIntersecting: false }]);
+  assert.equal(state.classes.has('visible'), false);
+  state.intersect([{ target: state.element, isIntersecting: true }]);
+  assert.equal(state.classes.has('visible'), true);
+  assert.deepEqual(state.unobserved, [state.element]);
+});
+
+test('missing IntersectionObserver does not interrupt initialization', () => {
+  const state = setup(false);
+  assert.equal(state.timers.length, 0);
+  assert.deepEqual(state.observed, []);
+});