diff --git a/crates/core/src/io/progressive_reader.rs b/crates/core/src/io/progressive_reader.rs
index 5e62482..62e8ee9 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/io/progressive_reader.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/io/progressive_reader.rs
@@ -389,6 +389,11 @@ pub fn spawn_visual_height_rebuild(
 /// Maximum bytes to scan during initial open for the Sampling state.
 const INITIAL_SCAN_BYTES: usize = 64 * 1024;
 
+/// Maximum number of additional lines to scan beyond what's already cached
+/// in a single `get_line()` call.  Prevents O(N) blocking when the user
+/// jumps far ahead (e.g. `G` to end-of-file) during the Loading state.
+const SCAN_AHEAD_LIMIT: usize = 10_000;
+
 pub struct ProgressiveFileReader {
     path: PathBuf,
     pub state: ReaderState,
@@ -512,32 +517,23 @@ impl ProgressiveFileReader {
                 let mut newlines = scanned_newlines.borrow_mut();
                 let mut up_to = scanned_up_to.borrow_mut();
 
-                // We need `idx + 1` newlines to have `idx` lines available.
-                // Line i starts after the i-th newline (or at byte 0 for line 0)
-                // and ends at the (i+1)-th newline (or end of file).
-                // So to return line `idx`, we need at least `idx + 1` newline positions
-                // (the idx-th newline marks end of line idx-1/start of line idx,
-                //  and the (idx+1)-th newline marks end of line idx).
-                // Actually: line 0 starts at byte 0, ends at newline[0].
-                //           line 1 starts at newline[0]+1, ends at newline[1].
-                //           line i starts at newline[i-1]+1, ends at newline[i].
-                // So to serve line idx, we need newline positions up to index idx.
+                let scan_limit = newlines.len() + SCAN_AHEAD_LIMIT;
 
-                // Extend scan if needed
-                while newlines.len() <= idx && *up_to < mmap_data.len() {
+                // Extend scan if needed, but stop at scan_limit to avoid O(N) blocking
+                while newlines.len() <= idx
+                    && newlines.len() < scan_limit
+                    && *up_to < mmap_data.len()
+                {
                     let remaining = &mmap_data[*up_to..];
                     if let Some(rel_pos) = memchr::memchr(b'\n', remaining) {
                         newlines.push(*up_to + rel_pos);
                         *up_to += rel_pos + 1;
                     } else {
-                        // No more newlines; rest of file is the last line
                         *up_to = mmap_data.len();
                         break;
                     }
                 }
 
-                // Check if line idx is beyond what's available
-                // If idx == newlines.len(), it's the last line (after last newline, no trailing \n)
                 if idx > newlines.len() {
                     return None;
                 }