diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/helpers/ImageHelper.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/helpers/ImageHelper.kt
index 40999d0bb..e97548538 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/helpers/ImageHelper.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/helpers/ImageHelper.kt
@@ -20,44 +20,52 @@ import com.github.libretube.util.DataSaverMode
 import java.nio.file.Path
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
 import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
+import java.io.File
 
 object ImageHelper {
     lateinit var imageLoader: ImageLoader
 
+    private val Context.coilFile get() = cacheDir.resolve("coil")
+
     /**
      * Initialize the image loader
      */
     fun initializeImageLoader(context: Context) {
-        val maxImageCacheSize = PreferenceHelper.getString(
-            PreferenceKeys.MAX_IMAGE_CACHE,
-            ""
-        )
+        val maxCacheSize = PreferenceHelper.getString(PreferenceKeys.MAX_IMAGE_CACHE, "128")
 
         imageLoader = ImageLoader.Builder(context)
             .callFactory(CronetHelper.callFactory)
+            .crossfade(true)
             .apply {
-                when (maxImageCacheSize) {
-                    "" -> {
-                        diskCachePolicy(CachePolicy.DISABLED)
-                    }
+                if (maxCacheSize.isEmpty()) {
+                    diskCachePolicy(CachePolicy.DISABLED)
+                } else {
+                    diskCachePolicy(CachePolicy.ENABLED)
+                    memoryCachePolicy(CachePolicy.ENABLED)
 
-                    else -> diskCache(
-                        DiskCache.Builder()
-                            .directory(context.cacheDir.resolve("coil"))
-                            .maxSizeBytes(maxImageCacheSize.toInt() * 1024 * 1024L)
-                            .build()
+                    val diskCache = generateDiskCache(
+                        directory = context.coilFile,
+                        size = maxCacheSize.toInt()
                     )
+                    diskCache(diskCache)
                 }
             }
             .build()
     }
 
+    private fun generateDiskCache(directory: File, size: Int): DiskCache {
+        return DiskCache.Builder()
+            .directory(directory)
+            .maxSizeBytes(size * 1024 * 1024L)
+            .build()
+    }
+
     /**
      * load an image from a url into an imageView
      */
     fun loadImage(url: String?, target: ImageView) {
         // only load the image if the data saver mode is disabled
-        if (DataSaverMode.isEnabled(target.context) || url == null) return
+        if (DataSaverMode.isEnabled(target.context) || url.isNullOrEmpty()) return
         val urlToLoad = ProxyHelper.unwrapImageUrl(url)
 
         val request = ImageRequest.Builder(target.context)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/HomeFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/HomeFragment.kt
index b4af3c516..400b0ce1e 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/HomeFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/HomeFragment.kt
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ class HomeFragment : Fragment() {
             filteredFeed.take(20).toMutableList(),
             forceMode = VideosAdapter.Companion.LayoutMode.RELATED_COLUMN
         )
+        binding.featuredRV.setHasFixedSize(true)
     }
 
     private suspend fun loadBookmarks() {
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_home.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_home.xml
index be3d61dcd..005294f13 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_home.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_home.xml
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@
                     android:id="@+id/featuredRV"
                     android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                    android:layout_marginHorizontal="10dp"
+                    android:paddingHorizontal="10dp"
+                    android:clipToPadding="false"
                     android:nestedScrollingEnabled="false"
                     android:visibility="gone" />
 
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@
                     android:id="@+id/watchingRV"
                     android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                    android:layout_marginHorizontal="10dp"
+                    android:paddingHorizontal="10dp"
+                    android:clipToPadding="false"
                     android:nestedScrollingEnabled="false"
                     android:visibility="gone" />