diff --git a/apps/buffering.c b/apps/buffering.c
index 6160869..0952ca1 100644
--- a/apps/buffering.c
+++ b/apps/buffering.c
@@ -607,6 +607,8 @@ static bool buffer_handle(int handle_id)
         return true;
     }
 
+    file_preloadfat(h->fd, MIN( h->filerem, buffer_len - h->widx ) );
+    
     while (h->filerem > 0)
     {
         /* max amount to copy */
diff --git a/firmware/common/file.c b/firmware/common/file.c
index 7c01f03..636622b 100644
--- a/firmware/common/file.c
+++ b/firmware/common/file.c
@@ -793,3 +793,40 @@ int release_files(int volume)
 }
 #endif /* #ifdef HAVE_HOTSWAP */
 
+int file_preloadfat(int fd, size_t count)
+{
+    long sectors;
+    struct filedesc* file = &openfiles[fd];
+    int rc=0;
+
+    if (fd < 0 || fd > MAX_OPEN_FILES-1) {
+        errno = EINVAL;
+        return -1;
+    }
+    if ( !file->busy ) {
+        errno = EBADF;
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    LDEBUGF( "file_preloadfat(%d,%ld)\n",
+             fd,count);
+
+    /* attempt to read past EOF? */
+    if ((long)count > file->size - file->fileoffset)
+        count = file->size - file->fileoffset;
+
+    /* any head bytes? */
+    if ( file->cacheoffset != -1 ) {
+        int offs = file->cacheoffset;
+        int headbytes = MIN((long)count, SECTOR_SIZE - offs);
+        count -= headbytes;
+    }
+
+   /* read/write whole sectors right into/from the supplied buffer */
+    sectors = count / SECTOR_SIZE;
+    if ( sectors ) {
+        rc = fat_preload(&(file->fatfile), sectors);
+    }
+    
+    return rc;
+}
diff --git a/firmware/drivers/fat.c b/firmware/drivers/fat.c
index 2ff4c61..3b2068d 100644
--- a/firmware/drivers/fat.c
+++ b/firmware/drivers/fat.c
@@ -2520,3 +2520,31 @@ bool fat_ismounted(int volume)
     return (volume<NUM_VOLUMES && fat_bpbs[volume].mounted);
 }
 #endif
+
+long fat_preload( struct fat_file *file, long sectorcount )
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_MULTIVOLUME
+    struct bpb* fat_bpb = &fat_bpbs[file->volume];
+#else
+    struct bpb* fat_bpb = &fat_bpbs[0];
+#endif
+    long cluster = file->lastcluster;
+    long i;
+    long clustercount = sectorcount / (long)fat_bpb->bpb_secperclus +
+                        ( (sectorcount % (long)fat_bpb->bpb_secperclus > 0 ) ? 1 : 0 );
+    
+    LDEBUGF( "fat_preload(file:%lx,count:0x%lx)\n",
+             file->firstcluster,sectorcount);
+    LDEBUGF( "fat_preload: sec=%lx numsec=%ld eof=%d\n",
+             sector,numsec, eof?1:0);
+
+    if ( file->eof )
+    	return 0;
+
+    for ( i=0; cluster && i < clustercount; i++ ) {
+    	cluster = get_next_cluster(IF_MV2(fat_bpb,) cluster);		
+    }		
+
+    DEBUGF("Cluster numbers preloaded: %ld\n", i);
+    return i;
+}
diff --git a/firmware/export/fat.h b/firmware/export/fat.h
index c99a1a7..9cd0b42 100644
--- a/firmware/export/fat.h
+++ b/firmware/export/fat.h
@@ -123,5 +123,6 @@ extern int fat_opendir(IF_MV2(int volume,)
 extern int fat_getnext(struct fat_dir *ent, struct fat_direntry *entry);
 extern unsigned int fat_get_cluster_size(IF_MV_NONVOID(int volume)); /* public for debug info screen */
 extern bool fat_ismounted(int volume);
+extern long fat_preload(struct fat_file *ent, long sectorcount);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/firmware/include/file.h b/firmware/include/file.h
index 3e07fd0..49d5a04 100644
--- a/firmware/include/file.h
+++ b/firmware/include/file.h
@@ -81,5 +81,6 @@ extern int rename(const char* path, const char* newname);
 extern int ftruncate(int fd, off_t length);
 extern off_t filesize(int fd);
 extern int release_files(int volume);
+extern int file_preloadfat(int fd, size_t count);
 
 #endif