diff --git a/cutleft.py b/cutleft.py
index 1eb7393..7aa07af 100644
--- a/cutleft.py
+++ b/cutleft.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import sys
+from functools import lru_cache
 import os
 import time
 import json  # Added for schema output
@@ -82,14 +83,20 @@ def stitch_images(image_list):
 
     return combined
 
+@lru_cache(maxsize=3)
+def get_pdf_pages(filename):
+    """Caches the heavy PDF rendering step for the current and next files."""
+    pdf_path = os.path.join(INPUT_DIR, filename)
+    return convert_from_path(pdf_path)
+
 def process_single_pdf(filename, shift_offset=0, max_per_file=5):
     """
     Converts PDF to stitched images.
     Returns a tuple: (preview_image_resized, list_of_split_images, schema_dict)
     """
-    pdf_path = os.path.join(INPUT_DIR, filename)
+    # pdf_path = os.path.join(INPUT_DIR, filename)
     try:
-        pages = convert_from_path(pdf_path)
+        pages = get_pdf_pages(filename)
         cropped_images = []
 
         for img in pages: