diff --git a/lib/Epub/Epub/Page.cpp b/lib/Epub/Epub/Page.cpp
index 3bfb0251..15bcf10e 100644
--- a/lib/Epub/Epub/Page.cpp
+++ b/lib/Epub/Epub/Page.cpp
@@ -226,6 +226,19 @@ bool Page::hasPlaceholderImages(const bool forceLoadLargeImages) const {
   return false;
 }
 
+bool Page::allImagesArePlaceholders(const bool forceLoadLargeImages) const {
+  bool anyImage = false;
+  for (const auto& el : elements) {
+    if (el->getTag() == TAG_PageImage) {
+      anyImage = true;
+      if (!static_cast<const PageImage&>(*el).getImageBlock().wouldShowPlaceholder(forceLoadLargeImages)) {
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return anyImage;
+}
+
 void Page::renderTextOnly(GfxRenderer& renderer, const int fontId, const int xOffset, const int yOffset) const {
   for (auto& element : elements) {
     if (element->getTag() == TAG_PageLine) {
diff --git a/lib/Epub/Epub/Page.h b/lib/Epub/Epub/Page.h
index 067f2d5a..54985193 100644
--- a/lib/Epub/Epub/Page.h
+++ b/lib/Epub/Epub/Page.h
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ class Page {
   void render(GfxRenderer& renderer, int fontId, int xOffset, int yOffset, bool forceLoadLargeImages = true) const;
   void renderTextOnly(GfxRenderer& renderer, int fontId, int xOffset, int yOffset) const;
   bool hasPlaceholderImages(bool forceLoadLargeImages) const;
+  bool allImagesArePlaceholders(bool forceLoadLargeImages) const;
   bool serialize(FsFile& file) const;
   static std::unique_ptr<Page> deserialize(FsFile& file);
 
diff --git a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
index 661488d2..f01e1d1f 100644
--- a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
+++ b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
@@ -1964,8 +1964,10 @@ void EpubReaderActivity::renderContents(std::unique_ptr<Page> page, const int or
   const bool effectiveForceLoad = forceLoadLargeImages || !SETTINGS.largeImagePlaceholder;
   pageHasPlaceholders = page->hasPlaceholderImages(effectiveForceLoad);
 
-  // Force special handling for pages with real (non-placeholder) images when anti-aliasing is on
-  bool imagePageWithAA = page->hasImages() && !pageHasPlaceholders && aaEnabledForThisRender;
+  // Force special handling for pages with at least one real (decoded) image when anti-aliasing is on.
+  // Mixed pages (some decoded, some placeholder) still need the AA codepath.
+  bool imagePageWithAA =
+      page->hasImages() && !page->allImagesArePlaceholders(effectiveForceLoad) && aaEnabledForThisRender;
   bool forceHalfRefreshThisPage = pendingHalfRefreshAfterImagePage && SETTINGS.halfRefreshAfterImagePage;
   pendingHalfRefreshAfterImagePage = false;
   lastRenderStats.imagePageWithAA = imagePageWithAA;
@@ -2066,9 +2068,9 @@ void EpubReaderActivity::renderContents(std::unique_ptr<Page> page, const int or
     LOG_INF("ERS", "Skipping grayscale/BW-restore for this page (insufficient heap for BW snapshot)");
   }
 
-  // Only schedule the half-refresh if real images were decoded on this page.
+  // Only schedule the half-refresh if at least one real image was decoded on this page.
   // Placeholder-only pages don't deposit grayscale data that needs settling.
-  if (page->hasImages() && !pageHasPlaceholders &&
+  if (page->hasImages() && !page->allImagesArePlaceholders(effectiveForceLoad) &&
       getEffectiveImageRendering() != CrossPointSettings::IMAGES_SUPPRESS) {
     pendingHalfRefreshAfterImagePage = true;
   }