diff --git a/src/client/components/SessionViewer.tsx b/src/client/components/SessionViewer.tsx
index 716d52a..fa3cac1 100644
--- a/src/client/components/SessionViewer.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/SessionViewer.tsx
@@ -209,8 +209,8 @@ export function SessionViewer({
               key={msg.uuid}
               id={`msg-${msg.uuid}`}
               data-msg-index={item.messageIndex}
-              className={`animate-fade-in ${isFocused ? "search-match-focused rounded-xl" : ""}`}
-              style={{ animationDelay: `${Math.min(idx * 20, 300)}ms`, animationFillMode: "backwards" }}
+              className={`${idx < 20 ? "animate-fade-in" : ""} ${isFocused ? "search-match-focused rounded-xl" : ""}`}
+              style={idx < 20 ? { animationDelay: `${idx * 20}ms`, animationFillMode: "backwards" } : undefined}
             >
               <MessageBubble
                 message={msg}