diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp
index d288236d2..4a2caaab4 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@
 #include <version_string.h>
 
 static constexpr int MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC = 10;
-static constexpr int MIN_HOST_QUOTA = 1;          ///< Floor for the per-host request allowance
-static constexpr qint64 QUOTA_RECOVER_MS = 60000; ///< Idle time before a reduced quota starts recovering
+static constexpr int MIN_HOST_QUOTA = 1;                ///< Floor for the per-host request allowance
+static constexpr qint64 QUOTA_RECOVER_MS = 60000;       ///< Idle time before a reduced quota starts recovering
+static constexpr int DISPATCH_INTERVAL_MS = 100;        ///< Pacing between individual network requests
+static constexpr qint64 QUOTA_RESET_INTERVAL_MS = 1000; ///< Interval at which the request quota resets
 
 CardPictureLoaderWorker::CardPictureLoaderWorker()
     : QObject(nullptr), picDownload(SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getPicDownload()),
@@ -60,11 +62,18 @@ CardPictureLoaderWorker::CardPictureLoaderWorker()
     pictureLoaderThread->start(QThread::LowPriority);
     moveToThread(pictureLoaderThread);
 
+    // QTimer value members are not QObject children, so moveToThread on the worker doesn't move
+    // them. They must live in the worker's thread to be started from the slot code that runs there.
+    requestTimer.moveToThread(pictureLoaderThread);
+    dispatchTimer.moveToThread(pictureLoaderThread);
+
     connect(this, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::imageLoadEnqueued, this, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::handleImageLoadEnqueued);
 
     connect(&requestTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::resetRequestQuota);
-    requestTimer.setInterval(1000);
-    requestTimer.start();
+    requestTimer.setInterval(static_cast<int>(QUOTA_RESET_INTERVAL_MS));
+
+    connect(&dispatchTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::dispatchQueuedRequest);
+    dispatchTimer.setInterval(DISPATCH_INTERVAL_MS);
 }
 
 CardPictureLoaderWorker::~CardPictureLoaderWorker()
@@ -84,8 +93,8 @@ void CardPictureLoaderWorker::queueRequest(const QUrl &url, CardPictureLoaderWor
             SettingsCache::instance().cacheStorage().getCardPictureLoaderCacheMethod()) ==
             CardPictureLoaderCacheMethod::CacheMethod::NETWORK_CACHE &&
         cache->metaData(url).isValid()) {
-        // If we hit a cached url, we get to make the request for free, since it won't contribute towards the
-        // rate-limit
+        // A request that will be served from the disk cache never touches the network and therefore
+        // doesn't use up any of the rate limit, so it gets to skip the queue.
         makeRequest(url, worker);
         return;
     }
@@ -107,10 +116,13 @@ QNetworkReply *CardPictureLoaderWorker::makeRequest(const QUrl &url, CardPicture
     req.setHeader(QNetworkRequest::UserAgentHeader, QString("Cockatrice %1").arg(VERSION_STRING));
     req.setRawHeader("Accept", "image/avif,image/webp,image/apng,image/,/*;q=0.8");
 
-    bool useNetworkCache =
-        !picDownload && static_cast<CardPictureLoaderCacheMethod::CacheMethod>(
-                            SettingsCache::instance().cacheStorage().getCardPictureLoaderCacheMethod()) ==
-                            CardPictureLoaderCacheMethod::CacheMethod::NETWORK_CACHE;
+    // Cached entries are served straight from the disk cache even when picture downloads are
+    // enabled: re-fetching an already-cached image would burn the rate limit for nothing. Only a
+    // genuine cache miss goes to the network, and only when downloads are enabled.
+    bool useNetworkCache = static_cast<CardPictureLoaderCacheMethod::CacheMethod>(
+                               SettingsCache::instance().cacheStorage().getCardPictureLoaderCacheMethod()) ==
+                               CardPictureLoaderCacheMethod::CacheMethod::NETWORK_CACHE &&
+                           (cache->metaData(url).isValid() || !picDownload);
 
     req.setAttribute(QNetworkRequest::CacheLoadControlAttribute,
                      useNetworkCache ? QNetworkRequest::AlwaysCache : QNetworkRequest::AlwaysNetwork);
@@ -144,8 +156,29 @@ void CardPictureLoaderWorker::resetRequestQuota()
 
 void CardPictureLoaderWorker::processQueuedRequests()
 {
-    while (requestQuota > 0 && processSingleRequest()) {
+    if (requestLoadQueue.isEmpty()) {
+        dispatchTimer.stop();
+        return;
+    }
+    // Start lazily from the worker's own thread: QTimer must be started in the thread it lives in.
+    if (!requestTimer.isActive()) {
+        requestTimer.start();
+    }
+    dispatchTimer.start();
+}
+
+void CardPictureLoaderWorker::dispatchQueuedRequest()
+{
+    if (requestLoadQueue.isEmpty() || requestQuota <= 0) {
+        dispatchTimer.stop();
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (processSingleRequest()) {
         --requestQuota;
+    } else {
+        // No queued host currently has allowance left in this second; wait for the quota reset.
+        dispatchTimer.stop();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h
index d1c519b7a..9f7fd9437 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ public slots:
     /** @brief Processes all queued requests respecting the request quota. */
     void processQueuedRequests();
 
+    /** @brief Chooses a request from the queue and starts it, respecting the quota and pacing. */
+    void dispatchQueuedRequest();
+
     /**
      * @brief Processes a single queued request.
      * @return true if a request was processed, false if queue is empty.
@@ -120,6 +123,7 @@ private:
 
     int requestQuota;                       ///< Remaining requests allowed per second
     QTimer requestTimer;                    ///< Timer to reset the request quota
+    QTimer dispatchTimer;                   ///< Timer pacing individual network requests
     QHash<QString, int> hostRequestQuota;   ///< Sustained per-host request allowance
     QHash<QString, int> hostQuotaRemaining; ///< Per-host allowance left in the current second
     QHash<QString, QDateTime> hostLast429;  ///< When each host was last rate limited