diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issue-board.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issue-board.tsx
index 521b89fba7..89239e4eff 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issue-board.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issue-board.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,17 @@ import {
   issueIdentifier,
 } from "@luke/features/issue-list-model";
 import { ISSUE_STATUS_ORDER, type Issue, type IssueStatus } from "@luke/features/issue-wire";
-import { IconButton, TEXT_ELEMENT, TEXT_TONE, TEXT_VARIANT, Text, useMenu } from "@luke/ui";
+import {
+  IconButton,
+  SKELETON_SHAPE,
+  Skeleton,
+  SkeletonRegion,
+  TEXT_ELEMENT,
+  TEXT_TONE,
+  TEXT_VARIANT,
+  Text,
+  useMenu,
+} from "@luke/ui";
 import { PlusIcon } from "lucide-react";
 import { useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useRef } from "react";
 import { RelativeTime } from "../tasks/relative-time";
@@ -41,6 +51,19 @@ import { useRowDrag } from "./use-row-drag";
 /** What a column with no issue says in its own place. */
 const NO_ISSUES = "No issues";
 
+/** How wide each placeholder column's heading stands, as a share of what its glyph leaves, and how wide each of its cards' titles, so the columns read as columns of their own. */
+const SKELETON_COLUMNS = [
+  { heading: "56%", cards: ["82%", "64%", "74%"] },
+  { heading: "36%", cards: ["70%", "88%"] },
+  { heading: "48%", cards: ["76%", "58%", "84%"] },
+  { heading: "34%", cards: ["66%"] },
+  { heading: "52%", cards: ["72%"] },
+] as const;
+
+/** How wide a placeholder card's identifier and its time stand, as wide as "ACME-12" and a short "2h". */
+const SKELETON_IDENTIFIER = "48px";
+const SKELETON_TIME = "20px";
+
 /** What a column's + is called, by the column it files into. */
 function newIssueIn(status: IssueStatus): string {
   return `New issue in ${ISSUE_STATUS_WORDS[status]}`;
@@ -341,3 +364,47 @@ export function IssueBoard({
     </div>
   );
 }
+
+/**
+ * The board while its issues are first read: a column for every status in
+ * the board's own box, its head a block where the glyph and the name will
+ * stand, over a few cards each a block for its identifier and time over one
+ * for its title, so the cards land where the blocks stood rather than on a
+ * blank page. Nothing stands for the counts and the +, and the region says
+ * what is being read.
+ */
+export function IssueBoardSkeleton({ label }: { label: string }): React.JSX.Element {
+  return (
+    <div className="issue-board-reading">
+      <SkeletonRegion label={label}>
+        <div className="issue-board">
+          {ISSUE_STATUS_ORDER.map((status, at) => {
+            const shape = SKELETON_COLUMNS[at % SKELETON_COLUMNS.length] ?? SKELETON_COLUMNS[0];
+            return (
+              <div key={status} className="issue-column">
+                <div className="issue-column-head">
+                  <Skeleton shape={SKELETON_SHAPE.CIRCLE} width="var(--luke-control-icon)" />
+                  <Text as={TEXT_ELEMENT.SPAN} variant={TEXT_VARIANT.SECTION}>
+                    <Skeleton width={shape.heading} />
+                  </Text>
+                </div>
+                <div className="sidebar-tasks issue-column-cards">
+                  {shape.cards.map((title, card) => (
+                    // oxlint-disable-next-line react/no-array-index-key -- a placeholder's cards have nothing but their place.
+                    <div key={card} className="issue-card-skeleton">
+                      <span className="issue-card-skeleton-line">
+                        <Skeleton width={SKELETON_IDENTIFIER} />
+                        <Skeleton width={SKELETON_TIME} />
+                      </span>
+                      <Skeleton width={title} />
+                    </div>
+                  ))}
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            );
+          })}
+        </div>
+      </SkeletonRegion>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issue-detail.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issue-detail.tsx
index e6ae089aee..e12acde4a2 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issue-detail.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issue-detail.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ import {
   ConfirmDialog,
   EllipsisIcon,
   IconButton,
+  SKELETON_SHAPE,
+  Skeleton,
+  SkeletonRegion,
   useConfirmDialog,
   useMenu,
 } from "@luke/ui";
@@ -42,6 +45,16 @@ import type { IssueChange } from "./use-issues";
  * which no longer holds the issue.
  */
 
+/** How wide the placeholder title and the line under it stand, as shares of their lines. */
+const SKELETON_TITLE = "55%";
+const SKELETON_BYLINE = "40%";
+
+/** How wide the placeholder Status and Priority chips stand, as wide as a chip naming one. */
+const SKELETON_CHIPS = ["112px", "96px"] as const;
+
+/** How wide each placeholder line of the description stands, as a share of its line. */
+const SKELETON_DESCRIPTION = ["92%", "86%", "64%"] as const;
+
 /**
  * The toolbar's path, as the automation editor's: the Issues list a press
  * away, and the issue's identifier where one stands.
@@ -259,3 +272,41 @@ export function IssueDetail({
     </section>
   );
 }
+
+/**
+ * One issue's page while its issue is first read, opened from a link or a
+ * notification before the list holds it: the page's own document, a block
+ * where the title will stand in its heading's type, one for the line under
+ * it, the two chips' boxes, and a few lines of description, so the issue
+ * lands where the blocks stood. The region says what is being read.
+ */
+export function IssueDetailSkeleton({ label }: { label: string }): React.JSX.Element {
+  return (
+    <div className="desktop-document">
+      <div className="plan-document-scroll scroll-fade">
+        <SkeletonRegion label={label}>
+          <div className="plan-body">
+            <div className="markdown task-title">
+              <div className="markdown-heading task-title-text" data-level="1">
+                <Skeleton width={SKELETON_TITLE} />
+              </div>
+            </div>
+            <div className="issue-byline">
+              <Skeleton width={SKELETON_BYLINE} />
+            </div>
+            <div className="issue-properties">
+              {SKELETON_CHIPS.map((width) => (
+                <Skeleton key={width} shape={SKELETON_SHAPE.CONTROL} width={width} />
+              ))}
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              {SKELETON_DESCRIPTION.map((width) => (
+                <Skeleton key={width} width={width} />
+              ))}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </SkeletonRegion>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issues-page.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issues-page.test.ts
index b3932c46bc..b0c46eb6b4 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issues-page.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issues-page.test.ts
@@ -839,6 +839,21 @@ test("an issue's page opened on an issue the service does not hand the reader, a
   assert.match(page.textContent ?? "", /This issue is gone, or not in this workspace\./u);
 });
 
+test("an issue's page opened before its issue is read, as a link opens it, stands the issue's page in blocks, said as reading, until the issue lands in their place", async () => {
+  standing = [issue(1, { title: "Fix login" })];
+  const page = mount({ kind: ISSUES_PAGE.ISSUE, issueId: issue(1).id });
+  const reading = page.querySelector('[role="status"]');
+  const readingWords = reading?.textContent;
+  const readingTitle = titleOf(page);
+  await settle();
+
+  assert.equal(readingWords, "Reading the issue");
+  assert.ok(reading?.closest(".desktop-document"), "the blocks stand in the issue's own document");
+  assert.equal(readingTitle, undefined);
+  assert.equal(page.querySelector('[role="status"]'), null);
+  assert.equal(titleOf(page), "Fix login");
+});
+
 test("two changes at once draw the newest's answer, though the older one is answered after it", async () => {
   standing = [issue(1)];
   const page = await openIssue(issue(1).id);
@@ -1365,7 +1380,7 @@ test("View options lays the page out as the list and back as the board, and an i
   assert.equal(page.querySelector(".home-section"), null);
 });
 
-test("while the issues are read the list stands rows of blocks, said as reading, and the board stands nothing until its columns can", async () => {
+test("while the issues are read the list stands rows of blocks and the board a column of blocks for every status, each said as reading", async () => {
   standing = [issue(1)];
   window.localStorage.setItem("luke.issuesLayout", JSON.stringify("list"));
   const list = mount();
@@ -1378,12 +1393,17 @@ test("while the issues are read the list stands rows of blocks, said as reading,
   window.localStorage.setItem("luke.issuesLayout", JSON.stringify("board"));
   const board = mount();
   const boardReading = board.querySelector('[role="status"]');
+  const readingColumns = boardReading?.querySelectorAll(".issue-column").length;
+  const readingCards = boardReading?.querySelectorAll("[data-issue-id]").length;
   await settle();
 
   assert.equal(reading, "Reading issues");
   assert.equal(read, null);
   assert.deepEqual(listedGroups, [["Backlog1", ["ACME-1 Issue 1"]]]);
-  assert.equal(boardReading, null);
+  assert.equal(boardReading?.textContent, "Reading issues");
+  assert.equal(readingColumns, 5, "a column for every status stands while the board is read");
+  assert.equal(readingCards, 0, "no issue's card stands before the issues are read");
+  assert.equal(board.querySelector('[role="status"]'), null);
   assert.deepEqual(columns(board)[0], ["Backlog1", ["ACME-1"]]);
 });
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issues-page.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issues-page.tsx
index 3e4dc103c6..569229bab5 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issues-page.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/desktop/issues-page.tsx
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ import { TOAST_HOLD, TOAST_TONE, useToast } from "../toast";
 import { commandKeyshortcuts, Tooltip } from "../tooltip";
 import { ActionMenu, type MenuAction } from "./action-menu";
 import { readKept, writeKept } from "./folded-groups";
-import { IssueBoard, useBoardKeys } from "./issue-board";
-import { IssueCrumbs, IssueDetail } from "./issue-detail";
+import { IssueBoard, IssueBoardSkeleton, useBoardKeys } from "./issue-board";
+import { IssueCrumbs, IssueDetail, IssueDetailSkeleton } from "./issue-detail";
 import { IssueList, listRowIssue } from "./issue-list";
 import { type IssueDraft, NewIssueDialog } from "./new-issue-dialog";
 import { type IssueChange, useIssue, useIssues } from "./use-issues";
@@ -89,8 +89,9 @@ const storedLayout = Schema.fromJsonString(Schema.Literals(Object.values(ISSUES_
 /** What the toolbar's layout menu is called. */
 const VIEW_OPTIONS = "View options";
 
-/** What the list's page is read as while its issues are. */
+/** What the list's page is read as while its issues are, and one issue's page while its issue is. */
 const READING_LINE = "Reading issues";
+const READING_ONE_LINE = "Reading the issue";
 
 /** What the list says where it could not be read. */
 const UNREAD_LINE = "The issues could not be read.";
@@ -142,8 +143,9 @@ function keyboardLeftWith(issueId: string): boolean {
 /**
  * What the list's page stands, by its read and its layout. Note that an
  * empty board still stands its columns, each saying it holds none, so only
- * the list says there are none yet; and that a board being read stands
- * nothing, since the page's loading rows are a list's shape, not a board's.
+ * the list says there are none yet; and that a board being read stands as
+ * ready, drawing its own columns of blocks (`IssueBoardSkeleton`), since
+ * the page's loading rows are a list's shape, not a board's.
  */
 function listState(read: ReturnType<typeof useIssues>["read"], onBoard: boolean): CollectionState {
   if (read === undefined) return onBoard ? COLLECTION_STATE.READY : COLLECTION_STATE.LOADING;
@@ -236,7 +238,10 @@ function ListPage({
         </ErrorState>
       }
     >
-      {listed === undefined ? null : onBoard ? (
+      {/* Note that the children stand only once ready, which a page still being read is only on the board. */}
+      {listed === undefined ? (
+        <IssueBoardSkeleton label={READING_LINE} />
+      ) : onBoard ? (
         <IssueBoard
           issues={listed}
           workspaceName={workspaceName}
@@ -306,7 +311,7 @@ function ViewOptions({
   );
 }
 
-/** One issue's page while its issue is not drawn: its empty frame while it is read, or why it could not be, with Retry. */
+/** One issue's page while its issue is not drawn: its page in blocks while it is read, or why it could not be, with Retry. */
 function DetailFrame({
   failure,
   onRetry,
@@ -325,13 +330,15 @@ function DetailFrame({
           <ExperimentTag />
         </div>
       </header>
-      <div className="automations-scroll scroll-fade-top">
-        {failure === undefined ? null : (
+      {failure === undefined ? (
+        <IssueDetailSkeleton label={READING_ONE_LINE} />
+      ) : (
+        <div className="automations-scroll scroll-fade-top">
           <ErrorState onRetry={onRetry} placement={ERROR_STATE_PLACEMENT.CENTRED}>
             {failure === ISSUE_CALL_FAILURE.NOT_FOUND ? GONE_LINE : UNREAD_ONE_LINE}
           </ErrorState>
-        )}
-      </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
     </section>
   );
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/styles/issues.css b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/styles/issues.css
index 86baa3481f..b5b8847dec 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/styles/issues.css
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/styles/issues.css
@@ -288,3 +288,38 @@
 .issue-board .sidebar-task-time {
   margin-left: auto;
 }
+
+/* The board while its issues are read (`IssueBoardSkeleton`): the reading
+   region and the box around it hold to the page's height as the board
+   does, so its columns stand as tall as the board's will. */
+.issue-board-reading,
+.issue-board-reading > [role="status"] {
+  display: flex;
+  min-width: min-content;
+  min-height: 0;
+  flex: 1 1 0;
+  flex-direction: column;
+}
+
+/* A placeholder column's name takes what its glyph's block leaves, as the
+   name does. */
+.issue-column-head > .luke-skeleton + .luke-text {
+  flex: 1;
+}
+
+/* A placeholder card stands a card's room: its identifier and time on a
+   caption's line over its title on the body's, at the card's own inset. */
+.issue-card-skeleton {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--luke-space-2);
+  padding: var(--luke-space-8) var(--row-inset);
+  font-size: var(--luke-type-body-size);
+}
+
+.issue-card-skeleton-line {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: var(--luke-space-8);
+  font-size: var(--luke-type-caption-size);
+}