diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/features/pdf-preview/util/compiler.ts b/services/web/frontend/js/features/pdf-preview/util/compiler.ts
index bd9eef3a40..27a5f3780d 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/features/pdf-preview/util/compiler.ts
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/features/pdf-preview/util/compiler.ts
@@ -119,9 +119,8 @@ export default class DocumentCompiler {
     this.setCompiling(true)
 
     if (wasCompiling) {
-      if (options.isAutoCompileOnChange) {
-        this.debouncedAutoCompile()
-      }
+      // The auto-compile effect in local-compile-context re-arms the debounce
+      // once compiling flips back to false, so we don't re-queue here.
       return
     }
 
diff --git a/services/web/frontend/js/shared/context/local-compile-context.tsx b/services/web/frontend/js/shared/context/local-compile-context.tsx
index 2ef1f08153..3bf7977af0 100644
--- a/services/web/frontend/js/shared/context/local-compile-context.tsx
+++ b/services/web/frontend/js/shared/context/local-compile-context.tsx
@@ -696,16 +696,20 @@ export const LocalCompileProvider: FC<React.PropsWithChildren> = ({
   // show that the project has pending changes
   const hasChanges = Boolean(canAutoCompile && uncompiled && compiledOnce)
 
-  // call the debounced autocompile function if the project is available for auto-compiling and it has changed
+  // Trigger a debounced auto-compile when the project has changed.
+  // Crucially: cancel the debounce while a compile is already in flight so
+  // compiles don't chain back-to-back.  When the compile finishes (compiling
+  // flips to false) and there are still uncompiled changes, the effect re-runs
+  // and re-arms the debounce exactly once.
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (canAutoCompile) {
+    if (canAutoCompile && !compiling) {
       if (changedAt > 0) {
         compiler.debouncedAutoCompile()
       }
     } else {
       compiler.debouncedAutoCompile.cancel()
     }
-  }, [compiler, canAutoCompile, changedAt])
+  }, [compiler, canAutoCompile, changedAt, compiling])
 
   // cancel debounced recompile on unmount
   useEffect(() => {