diff --git a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
index 28734ee8..7ebc4443 100644
--- a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
+++ b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
@@ -162,6 +162,28 @@ void EpubReaderActivity::loop() {
     return;
   }
 
+  // Detect long-press and schedule skip immediately 
+  const bool prevPressed = mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::PageBack) ||
+                           mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::Left);
+  const bool nextPressed = mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::PageForward) ||
+                           (SETTINGS.shortPwrBtn == CrossPointSettings::SHORT_PWRBTN::PAGE_TURN &&
+                            mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::Power)) ||
+                           mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::Right);
+
+  if (SETTINGS.longPressChapterSkip && (prevPressed || nextPressed) &&
+      mappedInput.getHeldTime() >= SETTINGS.getLongPressDurationMs() && !delayedSkipPending &&
+      !awaitingReleaseAfterSkip) {
+    xSemaphoreTake(renderingMutex, portMAX_DELAY);
+    showSkipPopup("Skipping");
+    delayedSkipPending = true;
+    delayedSkipDir = nextPressed ? +1 : -1;
+    delayedSkipExecuteAtMs = millis() + 500;
+    xSemaphoreGive(renderingMutex);
+    // Block release-based page change until unpressed
+    awaitingReleaseAfterSkip = true;
+    return;
+  }
+
   const bool prevReleased = mappedInput.wasReleased(MappedInputManager::Button::PageBack) ||
                             mappedInput.wasReleased(MappedInputManager::Button::Left);
   const bool nextReleased = mappedInput.wasReleased(MappedInputManager::Button::PageForward) ||
@@ -173,6 +195,12 @@ void EpubReaderActivity::loop() {
     return;
   }
 
+  if (awaitingReleaseAfterSkip) {
+    awaitingReleaseAfterSkip = false;
+    skipUnpressed = true;
+    return;
+  }
+
   // any botton press when at end of the book goes back to the last page
   if (currentSpineIndex > 0 && currentSpineIndex >= epub->getSpineItemsCount()) {
     currentSpineIndex = epub->getSpineItemsCount() - 1;
@@ -181,20 +209,6 @@ void EpubReaderActivity::loop() {
     return;
   }
 
-  const bool skipChapter = SETTINGS.longPressChapterSkip && mappedInput.getHeldTime() > SETTINGS.getLongPressDurationMs();
-
-  if (skipChapter) {
-    // We don't want to delete the section mid-render, so grab the semaphore
-    xSemaphoreTake(renderingMutex, portMAX_DELAY);
-    // Show immediate feedback for long-press skip, then schedule delayed action (500ms)
-    showSkipPopup("Skipping");
-    delayedSkipPending = true;
-    delayedSkipDir = nextReleased ? +1 : -1;
-    delayedSkipExecuteAtMs = millis() + 500;
-    xSemaphoreGive(renderingMutex);
-    // Do not perform the skip immediately; it will be executed in display loop after delay
-    return;
-  }
 
   // No current section, attempt to rerender the book
   if (!section) {
diff --git a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.h b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.h
index 2f3d6dbc..3b3aa41b 100644
--- a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.h
+++ b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ class EpubReaderActivity final : public ActivityWithSubactivity {
   bool delayedSkipPending = false;
   int delayedSkipDir = 0;
   uint32_t delayedSkipExecuteAtMs = 0;
+  bool awaitingReleaseAfterSkip = false;
+  bool skipUnpressed = false;
   const std::function<void()> onGoBack;
   const std::function<void()> onGoHome;
 
diff --git a/src/activities/reader/XtcReaderActivity.cpp b/src/activities/reader/XtcReaderActivity.cpp
index 21c2ef39..5251cc85 100644
--- a/src/activities/reader/XtcReaderActivity.cpp
+++ b/src/activities/reader/XtcReaderActivity.cpp
@@ -110,6 +110,29 @@ void XtcReaderActivity::loop() {
     return;
   }
 
+  // Detect long-press and schedule skip immediately 
+  const bool prevPressed = mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::PageBack) ||
+                           mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::Left);
+  const bool nextPressed = mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::PageForward) ||
+                           (SETTINGS.shortPwrBtn == CrossPointSettings::SHORT_PWRBTN::PAGE_TURN &&
+                            mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::Power)) ||
+                           mappedInput.isPressed(MappedInputManager::Button::Right);
+
+  if (SETTINGS.longPressChapterSkip && (prevPressed || nextPressed) &&
+      mappedInput.getHeldTime() >= SETTINGS.getLongPressDurationMs() && !delayedSkipPending &&
+      !awaitingReleaseAfterSkip) {
+    xSemaphoreTake(renderingMutex, portMAX_DELAY);
+    showSkipPopup("Skipping");
+    delayedSkipPending = true;
+    delayedSkipDir = nextPressed ? +1 : -1;
+    delayedSkipAmount = 10;  // long-press skip amount
+    delayedSkipExecuteAtMs = millis() + 500;
+    xSemaphoreGive(renderingMutex);
+    // Block release-based page change until unpressed
+    awaitingReleaseAfterSkip = true;
+    return;
+  }
+
   const bool prevReleased = mappedInput.wasReleased(MappedInputManager::Button::PageBack) ||
                             mappedInput.wasReleased(MappedInputManager::Button::Left);
   const bool nextReleased = mappedInput.wasReleased(MappedInputManager::Button::PageForward) ||
@@ -121,6 +144,12 @@ void XtcReaderActivity::loop() {
     return;
   }
 
+  if (awaitingReleaseAfterSkip) {
+    awaitingReleaseAfterSkip = false;
+    skipUnpressed = true;
+    return;
+  }
+
   // Handle end of book
   if (currentPage >= xtc->getPageCount()) {
     currentPage = xtc->getPageCount() - 1;
@@ -128,38 +157,17 @@ void XtcReaderActivity::loop() {
     return;
   }
 
-  const bool skipPages = SETTINGS.longPressChapterSkip && mappedInput.getHeldTime() > SETTINGS.getLongPressDurationMs();
-  const int skipAmount = skipPages ? 10 : 1;
-
   if (prevReleased) {
-    if (skipPages) {
-      xSemaphoreTake(renderingMutex, portMAX_DELAY);
-      showSkipPopup("Skipping");
-      delayedSkipPending = true;
-      delayedSkipDir = -1;
-      delayedSkipAmount = skipAmount;
-      delayedSkipExecuteAtMs = millis() + 500;
-      xSemaphoreGive(renderingMutex);
-      return;
-    }
-    if (currentPage >= static_cast<uint32_t>(skipAmount)) {
-      currentPage -= skipAmount;
+    // Short press: single page back
+    if (currentPage >= 1) {
+      currentPage -= 1;
     } else {
       currentPage = 0;
     }
     updateRequired = true;
   } else if (nextReleased) {
-    if (skipPages) {
-      xSemaphoreTake(renderingMutex, portMAX_DELAY);
-      showSkipPopup("Skipping");
-      delayedSkipPending = true;
-      delayedSkipDir = +1;
-      delayedSkipAmount = skipAmount;
-      delayedSkipExecuteAtMs = millis() + 500;
-      xSemaphoreGive(renderingMutex);
-      return;
-    }
-    currentPage += skipAmount;
+    // Short press: single page forward
+    currentPage += 1;
     if (currentPage >= xtc->getPageCount()) {
       currentPage = xtc->getPageCount();  // Allow showing "End of book"
     }
diff --git a/src/activities/reader/XtcReaderActivity.h b/src/activities/reader/XtcReaderActivity.h
index 6db673f1..75c20d01 100644
--- a/src/activities/reader/XtcReaderActivity.h
+++ b/src/activities/reader/XtcReaderActivity.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ class XtcReaderActivity final : public ActivityWithSubactivity {
   int delayedSkipDir = 0;
   uint32_t delayedSkipExecuteAtMs = 0;
   uint32_t delayedSkipAmount = 0; 
+  bool awaitingReleaseAfterSkip = false;
+  bool skipUnpressed = false;
   const std::function<void()> onGoBack;
   const std::function<void()> onGoHome;