diff --git a/website/src/components/VideoContent.jsx b/website/src/components/VideoContent.jsx
index be2210eb10..30fbfb2d3d 100644
--- a/website/src/components/VideoContent.jsx
+++ b/website/src/components/VideoContent.jsx
@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@ const LazyVideo = ({ url, title = 'YouTube video player' }) => {
                 onKeyDown={(e) => e.key === 'Enter' && handleLoad()}
                 role='button'
                 tabIndex={0}
-                style={{
-                    backgroundImage: `url(https://img.youtube.com/vi/${videoId}/maxresdefault.jpg)`,
-                }}
                 aria-label={`Load ${title}`}
+                style={{ width: '414px', height: '232px' }}
             >
                 {/* Play button overlay */}
+                <img
+                    src={`https://img.youtube.com/vi/${videoId}/maxresdefault.jpg`}
+                    fetchPriority='high'
+                />
                 <div className={styles.playButton}>
                     <svg
                         width='32'
diff --git a/website/src/theme/Root.tsx b/website/src/theme/Root.tsx
index cdd0b6a66c..1effe1266a 100644
--- a/website/src/theme/Root.tsx
+++ b/website/src/theme/Root.tsx
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ export default function Root({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
         });
 
         return () => {
-            clearTimeout(fallbackTimer);
             window.removeEventListener('scroll', handleUserInteraction);
             window.removeEventListener('click', handleUserInteraction);
             window.removeEventListener('touchstart', handleUserInteraction);