diff --git a/Nextcloud Cookbook iOS Client/AppState.swift b/Nextcloud Cookbook iOS Client/AppState.swift
index 35b1bfb..2b444b3 100644
--- a/Nextcloud Cookbook iOS Client/AppState.swift	
+++ b/Nextcloud Cookbook iOS Client/AppState.swift	
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import UIKit
     @Published var recipeDetails: [Int: RecipeDetail] = [:]
     @Published var timers: [String: RecipeTimer] = [:]
     @Published var categoryImages: [String: UIImage] = [:]
+    @Published var categoryImageRecipeIds: Set<Int> = []
     @Published var recentRecipes: [Recipe] = []
     @Published var categoryAccessDates: [String: Date] = [:]
     @Published var manualCategoryOrder: [String] = []
@@ -320,6 +321,7 @@ import UIKit
         for recipe in recipes {
             if let image = await getImage(id: recipe.recipe_id, size: .THUMB, fetchMode: .preferLocal) {
                 self.categoryImages[categoryName] = image
+                self.categoryImageRecipeIds.insert(recipe.recipe_id)
                 return
             }
         }
diff --git a/Nextcloud Cookbook iOS Client/Views/Recipes/AllRecipesCategoryCardView.swift b/Nextcloud Cookbook iOS Client/Views/Recipes/AllRecipesCategoryCardView.swift
index 3192667..54c6f79 100644
--- a/Nextcloud Cookbook iOS Client/Views/Recipes/AllRecipesCategoryCardView.swift	
+++ b/Nextcloud Cookbook iOS Client/Views/Recipes/AllRecipesCategoryCardView.swift	
@@ -72,15 +72,29 @@ struct AllRecipesCategoryCardView: View {
         allRecipes.shuffle()
 
         // Filter to recipes that have an image URL, then pick 4
+        // Prefer recipes not already used as category thumbnails
+        let categoryImageIds = appState.categoryImageRecipeIds
         var candidates: [Recipe] = []
+        var fallbackCandidates: [Recipe] = []
         var seenIds: Set<Int> = []
         for recipe in allRecipes {
             guard let url = recipe.imageUrl, !url.isEmpty else { continue }
             guard !seenIds.contains(recipe.recipe_id) else { continue }
             seenIds.insert(recipe.recipe_id)
-            candidates.append(recipe)
+            if categoryImageIds.contains(recipe.recipe_id) {
+                fallbackCandidates.append(recipe)
+            } else {
+                candidates.append(recipe)
+            }
             if candidates.count >= 4 { break }
         }
+        // Fill remaining slots from fallback if needed
+        if candidates.count < 4 {
+            for recipe in fallbackCandidates {
+                candidates.append(recipe)
+                if candidates.count >= 4 { break }
+            }
+        }
 
         var images: [UIImage] = []
         for recipe in candidates {