diff --git a/js/terminal-ext.js b/js/terminal-ext.js
index 48f33351..b3a2cc84 100644
--- a/js/terminal-ext.js
+++ b/js/terminal-ext.js
@@ -169,8 +169,6 @@ extend = (term) => {
 
   term.init = (user = "guest", preserveHistory = false) => {
     fitAddon.fit();
-    preloadASCIIArt();
-    preloadFiles();
     term.reset();
     term.printLogoType();
     term.stylePrint(
@@ -190,6 +188,12 @@ extend = (term) => {
       term.history = [];
     }
     term.focus();
+    
+    // Defer heavy operations to run after terminal becomes interactive
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      preloadASCIIArt();
+      preloadFiles();
+    }, 100);
   };
 
   term.runDeepLink = () => {
diff --git a/js/terminal.js b/js/terminal.js
index 66f3ba85..46b742e5 100644
--- a/js/terminal.js
+++ b/js/terminal.js
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@ function runRootTerminal(term) {
   }
 
   term.init();
-  term._initialized = true;
   term.locked = false;
 
   window.onload = (_) => {
     term.prompt();
     term.runDeepLink();
+    
+    // Only set initialized flag after prompt is displayed
+    term._initialized = true;
 
     window.addEventListener("resize", term.resizeListener);