diff --git a/qt/aqt/mediasrv.py b/qt/aqt/mediasrv.py
index 3a22dfa91..d6c0d4516 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/mediasrv.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/mediasrv.py
@@ -172,8 +172,13 @@ def _handle_local_file_request(request: LocalFileRequest) -> Response:
     try:
         mimetype = _mime_for_path(fullpath)
         if os.path.exists(fullpath):
+            if fullpath.endswith(".css"):
+                # make changes to css files immediately reflected in the webview
+                max_age = 10
+            else:
+                max_age = 60 * 60
             return flask.send_file(
-                fullpath, mimetype=mimetype, conditional=True, max_age=60 * 60  # type: ignore[call-arg]
+                fullpath, mimetype=mimetype, conditional=True, max_age=max_age  # type: ignore[call-arg]
             )
         else:
             print(f"Not found: {path}")
diff --git a/ts/reviewer/css.ts b/ts/reviewer/css.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3829d71b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ts/reviewer/css.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+type CssElementType = HTMLStyleElement | HTMLLinkElement;
+
+const preloadCssClassName = "preload-css";
+const template = document.createElement("template");
+
+export async function maybePreloadExternalCss(html: string): Promise<void> {
+    clearPreloadedCss();
+    template.innerHTML = html;
+    const externalCssElements = extractExternalCssElements(template.content);
+    if (externalCssElements.length) {
+        await Promise.race([
+            Promise.all(externalCssElements.map(injectAndLoadCss)),
+            new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 500)),
+        ]);
+    }
+}
+
+function clearPreloadedCss(): void {
+    [...document.head.getElementsByClassName(preloadCssClassName)].forEach((css) =>
+        css.remove(),
+    );
+}
+
+function extractExternalCssElements(fragment: DocumentFragment): CssElementType[] {
+    return <CssElementType[]>(
+        [...fragment.querySelectorAll("style, link")].filter(
+            (css) =>
+                (css instanceof HTMLStyleElement &&
+                    css.innerHTML.includes("@import")) ||
+                (css instanceof HTMLLinkElement && css.rel === "stylesheet"),
+        )
+    );
+}
+
+function injectAndLoadCss(css: CssElementType): Promise<void> {
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+        css.classList.add(preloadCssClassName);
+
+        // this prevents the css from affecting the page rendering
+        css.media = "print";
+
+        css.addEventListener("load", () => resolve());
+        css.addEventListener("error", () => resolve());
+        document.head.appendChild(css);
+    });
+}
diff --git a/ts/reviewer/index.ts b/ts/reviewer/index.ts
index b2b335515..5aca4410e 100644
--- a/ts/reviewer/index.ts
+++ b/ts/reviewer/index.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ globalThis.anki.mutateNextCardStates = mutateNextCardStates;
 
 import { bridgeCommand } from "../lib/bridgecommand";
 import { allImagesLoaded, preloadAnswerImages } from "./images";
+import { maybePreloadExternalCss } from "./css";
 declare const MathJax: any;
 
 type Callback = () => void | Promise<void>;
@@ -113,6 +114,9 @@ export async function _updateQA(
 
     const qa = document.getElementById("qa")!;
 
+    // prevent flash of unstyled content when external css used
+    await maybePreloadExternalCss(html);
+
     qa.style.opacity = "0";
 
     try {