diff --git a/src/components/terminal/terminal.js b/src/components/terminal/terminal.js
index 642904664..726b01bd1 100644
--- a/src/components/terminal/terminal.js
+++ b/src/components/terminal/terminal.js
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ import confirm from "dialogs/confirm";
 import fonts from "lib/fonts";
 import appSettings from "lib/settings";
 import LigaturesAddon from "./ligatures";
-import { getTerminalSettings } from "./terminalDefaults";
+import {
+	DEFAULT_TERMINAL_SETTINGS,
+	getTerminalSettings,
+} from "./terminalDefaults";
 import TerminalThemeManager from "./terminalThemeManager";
 import TerminalTouchSelection from "./terminalTouchSelection";
 
@@ -103,8 +106,13 @@ export default class TerminalComponent {
 			this.loadImageAddon();
 		}
 
-		// Load font if specified
-		this.loadTerminalFont();
+		// Load font in background - apply when ready without blocking render
+		this._fontReady = this.loadTerminalFont().then(() => {
+			if (this.terminal) {
+				this.terminal.options.fontFamily = this.options.fontFamily;
+				this.terminal.refresh(0, this.terminal.rows - 1);
+			}
+		});
 
 		// Set up terminal event handlers
 		this.setupEventHandlers();
@@ -570,6 +578,24 @@ export default class TerminalComponent {
 					this.setupTouchSelection();
 				}, 0);
 			}
+
+			// Safety: re-apply fontFamily on next frame to ensure xterm
+			// uses correct metrics even if font wasn't ready for first paint
+			if (typeof requestAnimationFrame === "function") {
+				requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+					if (this.terminal) {
+						this.terminal.options.fontFamily = this.options.fontFamily;
+						this.terminal.refresh(0, this.terminal.rows - 1);
+					}
+				});
+			} else {
+				setTimeout(() => {
+					if (this.terminal) {
+						this.terminal.options.fontFamily = this.options.fontFamily;
+						this.terminal.refresh(0, this.terminal.rows - 1);
+					}
+				}, 16);
+			}
 		} catch (error) {
 			console.error("Failed to mount terminal:", error);
 		}
@@ -1002,6 +1028,7 @@ export default class TerminalComponent {
 		const fontFamily = this.options.fontFamily;
 		if (fontFamily && fonts.get(fontFamily)) {
 			try {
+				fonts.injectFontFace(fontFamily);
 				await fonts.loadFont(fontFamily);
 			} catch (error) {
 				console.warn(`Failed to load terminal font ${fontFamily}:`, error);
diff --git a/src/lib/fonts.js b/src/lib/fonts.js
index c7f5faa0f..653ee6771 100644
--- a/src/lib/fonts.js
+++ b/src/lib/fonts.js
@@ -254,6 +254,23 @@ async function downloadFont(name, link) {
 	return FONT_FILE;
 }
 
+function injectFontFace(name) {
+	const $style = ensureStyleElement(FONT_FACE_STYLE_ID);
+	const css = get(name);
+
+	if (!css) return;
+
+	// Inject CSS if not already present (skip remote URL downloads - loadFont handles those)
+	if (!$style.textContent.includes(`font-family: '${name}'`)) {
+		$style.textContent = `${$style.textContent}\n${css}`;
+	}
+
+	// Kick off browser font loading without blocking
+	if (document.fonts?.load) {
+		document.fonts.load(`12px '${name}'`).catch(() => {});
+	}
+}
+
 async function loadFont(name) {
 	const $style = ensureStyleElement(FONT_FACE_STYLE_ID);
 	let css = get(name);
@@ -279,6 +296,15 @@ async function loadFont(name) {
 		$style.textContent = `${$style.textContent}\n${css}`;
 	}
 
+	// Ensure the browser has actually parsed and loaded the font
+	if (document.fonts?.load) {
+		try {
+			await document.fonts.load(`12px '${name}'`);
+		} catch {
+			// document.fonts.load may reject if font is unavailable
+		}
+	}
+
 	return css;
 }
 
@@ -303,4 +329,5 @@ export default {
 	setEditorFont,
 	setAppFont,
 	loadFont,
+	injectFontFace,
 };
diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index f18cae9bb..c54a27a17 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import config from "lib/config";
 import EditorFile from "lib/editorFile";
 import EditorManager from "lib/editorManager";
 import { initFileList } from "lib/fileList";
+import fonts from "lib/fonts";
 import lang from "lib/lang";
 import loadPlugins from "lib/loadPlugins";
 import Logger from "lib/logger";
@@ -254,6 +255,9 @@ async function onDeviceReady() {
 	themes.init();
 	initHighlighting();
 
+	// Inject default terminal font face early so browser preloads it
+	fonts.injectFontFace("MesloLGS NF Regular");
+
 	registerPrettierFormatter();
 
 	acode.setLoadingMessage("Loading language...");
diff --git a/src/settings/terminalSettings.js b/src/settings/terminalSettings.js
index b33f1d44b..505b2204b 100644
--- a/src/settings/terminalSettings.js
+++ b/src/settings/terminalSettings.js
@@ -391,6 +391,7 @@ export async function updateActiveTerminals(key, value) {
 				case "fontFamily":
 					// Load font if it's not already loaded
 					try {
+						fonts.injectFontFace(value);
 						await fonts.loadFont(value);
 					} catch (error) {
 						console.warn(`Failed to load font ${value}:`, error);