diff --git a/r2/r2/public/static/js/spotlight.js b/r2/r2/public/static/js/spotlight.js
index d62ecfc40..017860935 100644
--- a/r2/r2/public/static/js/spotlight.js
+++ b/r2/r2/public/static/js/spotlight.js
@@ -139,6 +139,12 @@ r.spotlight._advance = function(dir) {
         $next.show()
 
         this.help($next)
+
+        // prefetch forward and backward if advanced beyond default state
+        if (this.lineup.pos != 0) {
+            this._materializePos(this._advancePos(1))
+            this._materializePos(this._advancePos(-1))
+        }
     }, this))
 }