diff --git a/src/post.rs b/src/post.rs
index e1477ac..487cf19 100644
--- a/src/post.rs
+++ b/src/post.rs
@@ -99,10 +99,13 @@ pub struct LoaderCache {
     frame_sender: Sender<Frame>,
     loader: Arc<Loader>,
     workers: ThreadPool,
+    num_workers: u32,
+    busy_workers: u32,
 }
 
 impl LoaderCache {
     pub fn new(loader: Loader, size: usize) -> Self {
+        let num_workers = 16;
         let loader = Arc::new(loader);
         let (sender, receiver) = mpsc::channel();
 
@@ -111,7 +114,9 @@ impl LoaderCache {
             ready_frames: receiver,
             frame_sender: sender,
             loader,
-            workers: ThreadPoolBuilder::new().num_threads(8).build().unwrap(),
+            workers: ThreadPoolBuilder::new().num_threads(num_workers as _).build().unwrap(),
+            num_workers,
+            busy_workers: 0,
         }
     }
     pub fn load_first(&mut self) -> Arc<Frame> {
@@ -124,16 +129,19 @@ impl LoaderCache {
     }
     fn load_from_paths(&mut self, paths: Paths, rel: isize) -> Arc<Frame> {
         // Prefetch this path + a couple more based on access pattern
-        let paths_to_fetch = (0..5).into_iter()
+        self.tend_cache_nonblocking();
+        self.fetch_async(paths.path(), 0);
+
+        let paths_to_prefetch = (1..5).into_iter()
             .map(|i| paths.get_rel(i*rel))
             .dedup();
-        for path in paths_to_fetch {
-            self.fetch_async(path);
+        for path in paths_to_prefetch {
+            self.fetch_async(path, 2 /* leave some space in case we need something more urgent */);
         }
+
         self.get_or_tend(paths.path())
     }
     fn get_or_tend(&mut self, path: PathBuf) -> Arc<Frame> {
-        self.tend_cache_nonblocking();
         if let Some(cached) = self.cache.get(&path) {
             return cached.clone();
         }
@@ -141,9 +149,18 @@ impl LoaderCache {
         self.tend_cache(path)
     }
 
-    fn fetch_async(&self, path: PathBuf) {
+    /// If not cached, fetch the Frame in a background worker, but reserve at
+    /// least `reserved` workers (for higher priority work).
+    fn fetch_async(&mut self, path: PathBuf, reserved: u32) {
+        let cached = self.cache.get(&path).is_some();
+        let free_workers = self.busy_workers + reserved < self.num_workers;
+        if cached || !free_workers {
+            return;
+        }
+
         let sender = self.frame_sender.clone();
         let loader = self.loader.clone();
+        self.busy_workers += 1;
         self.workers.spawn(move || {
             let _ = sender.send(loader.load(&path));
         });
@@ -153,6 +170,7 @@ impl LoaderCache {
         loop {
             let frame = Arc::new(self.ready_frames.recv().unwrap());
             self.cache.put(frame.path.clone(), frame.clone());
+            self.busy_workers -= 1;
             if frame.path == path {
                 return frame;
             }