diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.c
index 99f1c83418..99fe86dac3 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.c
@@ -1028,6 +1028,10 @@ gst_splitmux_part_reader_finish_measuring_streams (GstSplitMuxPartReader *
           info.duration, reader->cb_data);
     }
     do_async_done (reader);
+
+    if (reader->loaded_cb) {
+      reader->loaded_cb (reader, reader->cb_data);
+    }
   } else {
     SPLITMUX_PART_UNLOCK (reader);
   }
@@ -1409,11 +1413,13 @@ gst_splitmux_part_reader_set_flushing_locked (GstSplitMuxPartReader * reader,
 void
 gst_splitmux_part_reader_set_callbacks (GstSplitMuxPartReader * reader,
     gpointer cb_data, GstSplitMuxPartReaderPadCb get_pad_cb,
-    GstSplitMuxPartReaderMeasuredCb measured_cb)
+    GstSplitMuxPartReaderMeasuredCb measured_cb,
+    GstSplitMuxPartReaderLoadedCb loaded_cb)
 {
   reader->cb_data = cb_data;
   reader->get_pad_cb = get_pad_cb;
   reader->measured_cb = measured_cb;
+  reader->loaded_cb = loaded_cb;
 }
 
 GstClockTime
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.h b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.h
index 31fe4cd555..dc847aaa04 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.h
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.h
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ typedef enum
 
 typedef GstPad *(*GstSplitMuxPartReaderPadCb)(GstSplitMuxPartReader *reader, GstPad *src_pad, gpointer cb_data);
 typedef void (*GstSplitMuxPartReaderMeasuredCb)(GstSplitMuxPartReader *reader, const gchar *filename, GstClockTime offset, GstClockTime duration, gpointer cb_data);
+typedef void (*GstSplitMuxPartReaderLoadedCb)(GstSplitMuxPartReader *reader, gpointer cb_data);
 
 struct _GstSplitMuxPartReaderInfo
 {
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ struct _GstSplitMuxPartReader
 
   GstSplitMuxPartReaderPadCb get_pad_cb;
   GstSplitMuxPartReaderMeasuredCb measured_cb;
+  GstSplitMuxPartReaderLoadedCb loaded_cb;
   gpointer cb_data;
 };
 
@@ -114,7 +116,9 @@ gboolean gst_splitmux_part_reader_is_loaded (GstSplitMuxPartReader *part);
 gboolean gst_splitmux_part_reader_is_playing (GstSplitMuxPartReader *part);
 
 void gst_splitmux_part_reader_set_callbacks (GstSplitMuxPartReader *reader,
-    gpointer cb_data, GstSplitMuxPartReaderPadCb get_pad_cb, GstSplitMuxPartReaderMeasuredCb measured_cb);
+    gpointer cb_data, GstSplitMuxPartReaderPadCb get_pad_cb, GstSplitMuxPartReaderMeasuredCb measured_cb,
+    GstSplitMuxPartReaderLoadedCb loaded_cb);
+
 gboolean gst_splitmux_part_reader_prepare (GstSplitMuxPartReader *part);
 void gst_splitmux_part_reader_unprepare (GstSplitMuxPartReader *part);
 void gst_splitmux_part_reader_set_location (GstSplitMuxPartReader *reader,
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsrc.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsrc.c
index 45ef4460e0..75db590a14 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsrc.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsrc.c
@@ -61,10 +61,12 @@ enum
 {
   PROP_0,
   PROP_LOCATION,
-  PROP_NUM_OPEN_FRAGMENTS
+  PROP_NUM_OPEN_FRAGMENTS,
+  PROP_NUM_LOOKAHEAD
 };
 
 #define DEFAULT_OPEN_FRAGMENTS 100
+#define DEFAULT_LOOKAHEAD 1
 
 enum
 {
@@ -122,6 +124,10 @@ static void
 gst_splitmux_part_measured_cb (GstSplitMuxPartReader * part,
     const gchar * filename, GstClockTime offset, GstClockTime duration,
     GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux);
+static void
+gst_splitmux_part_loaded_cb (GstSplitMuxPartReader * part,
+    GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux);
+
 static GstPad *gst_splitmux_find_output_pad (GstSplitMuxPartReader * part,
     GstPad * pad, GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux);
 static gboolean gst_splitmux_end_of_part (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux,
@@ -135,6 +141,8 @@ static gboolean gst_splitmux_src_activate_part (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux,
 static gboolean gst_splitmuxsrc_add_fragment (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux,
     const gchar * filename, GstClockTime offset, GstClockTime duration);
 
+static void schedule_lookahead_check (GstSplitMuxSrc * src);
+
 #define _do_init \
     G_IMPLEMENT_INTERFACE(GST_TYPE_URI_HANDLER, splitmux_src_uri_handler_init); \
     GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_INIT (splitmux_debug, "splitmuxsrc", 0, "Split File Demuxing Source");
@@ -252,6 +260,13 @@ gst_splitmux_src_class_init (GstSplitMuxSrcClass * klass)
           "May still use slightly more if set to less than the number of streams in the files",
           0, G_MAXUINT, DEFAULT_OPEN_FRAGMENTS,
           G_PARAM_READWRITE | G_PARAM_STATIC_STRINGS));
+  g_object_class_install_property (gobject_class, PROP_NUM_LOOKAHEAD,
+      g_param_spec_uint ("num-lookahead", "Fragment Lookahead",
+          "When switching fragments, ensure the next N fragments are prepared. "
+          "Useful on slow devices if opening/preparing a new fragment can cause playback stalls",
+          0, G_MAXUINT, DEFAULT_LOOKAHEAD,
+          G_PARAM_READWRITE | G_PARAM_STATIC_STRINGS));
+
 
   /**
    * GstSplitMuxSrc::format-location:
@@ -301,6 +316,7 @@ gst_splitmux_src_init (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux)
   splitmux->total_duration = GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE;
   gst_segment_init (&splitmux->play_segment, GST_FORMAT_TIME);
   splitmux->target_max_readers = DEFAULT_OPEN_FRAGMENTS;
+  splitmux->num_lookahead = DEFAULT_LOOKAHEAD;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -354,6 +370,11 @@ gst_splitmux_src_set_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
       splitmux->target_max_readers = g_value_get_uint (value);
       GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (splitmux);
       break;
+    case PROP_NUM_LOOKAHEAD:
+      GST_OBJECT_LOCK (splitmux);
+      splitmux->num_lookahead = g_value_get_uint (value);
+      GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (splitmux);
+      break;
     default:
       G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
       break;
@@ -377,6 +398,11 @@ gst_splitmux_src_get_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
       g_value_set_uint (value, splitmux->target_max_readers);
       GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (splitmux);
       break;
+    case PROP_NUM_LOOKAHEAD:
+      GST_OBJECT_LOCK (splitmux);
+      g_value_set_uint (value, splitmux->num_lookahead);
+      GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (splitmux);
+      break;
     default:
       G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
       break;
@@ -473,6 +499,7 @@ gst_splitmux_src_activate_first_part (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux)
       GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (splitmux, RESOURCE, OPEN_READ, (NULL),
           ("Failed to activate first part for playback"));
     }
+    schedule_lookahead_check (splitmux);
   }
   SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
 }
@@ -551,6 +578,19 @@ gst_splitmux_part_measured_cb (GstSplitMuxPartReader * part,
   SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
 }
 
+static void
+gst_splitmux_part_loaded_cb (GstSplitMuxPartReader * part,
+    GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux)
+{
+  SPLITMUX_SRC_LOCK (splitmux);
+  if (splitmux->did_initial_measuring) {
+    /* If we've already moved to playing, do another lookahead check for each fragment
+     * we load, to trigger loading another if needed */
+    schedule_lookahead_check (splitmux);
+  }
+  SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
+}
+
 static GstBusSyncReply
 gst_splitmux_part_bus_handler (GstBus * bus, GstMessage * msg,
     gpointer user_data)
@@ -631,7 +671,8 @@ gst_splitmux_part_reader_create (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux,
 
   gst_splitmux_part_reader_set_callbacks (r, splitmux,
       (GstSplitMuxPartReaderPadCb) gst_splitmux_find_output_pad,
-      (GstSplitMuxPartReaderMeasuredCb) gst_splitmux_part_measured_cb);
+      (GstSplitMuxPartReaderMeasuredCb) gst_splitmux_part_measured_cb,
+      (GstSplitMuxPartReaderLoadedCb) gst_splitmux_part_loaded_cb);
   gst_splitmux_part_reader_set_location (r, filename);
 
   bus = gst_element_get_bus (GST_ELEMENT_CAST (r));
@@ -936,7 +977,7 @@ reduce_active_readers (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux)
 
 static void
 add_to_active_readers (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux,
-    GstSplitMuxPartReader * reader)
+    GstSplitMuxPartReader * reader, gboolean add_as_oldest)
 {
   if (splitmux->target_max_readers != 0) {
     /* Check if it's already in the active reader pool, and move this reader
@@ -952,7 +993,11 @@ add_to_active_readers (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux,
       /* When adding a new reader to the list, reduce active readers first */
       reduce_active_readers (splitmux);
     }
-    g_queue_push_tail (splitmux->active_parts, reader);
+    if (add_as_oldest) {
+      g_queue_push_head (splitmux->active_parts, reader);
+    } else {
+      g_queue_push_tail (splitmux->active_parts, reader);
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -964,7 +1009,7 @@ gst_splitmux_src_activate_part (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux, guint part,
   GstSplitMuxPartReader *reader = gst_object_ref (splitmux->parts[part]);
 
   splitmux->cur_part = part;
-  add_to_active_readers (splitmux, reader);
+  add_to_active_readers (splitmux, reader, FALSE);
   SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
 
   /* Drop lock around calling activate, as it might call back
@@ -1038,7 +1083,7 @@ gst_splitmux_src_measure_next_part (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux)
       GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (splitmux, "Measuring file part %s (%u)",
           reader->path, idx);
 
-      add_to_active_readers (splitmux, reader);
+      add_to_active_readers (splitmux, reader, TRUE);
 
       SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
       if (!gst_splitmux_part_reader_prepare (reader)) {
@@ -1163,6 +1208,7 @@ gst_splitmux_src_start (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux)
     gst_element_call_async (GST_ELEMENT_CAST (splitmux),
         (GstElementCallAsyncFunc) gst_splitmux_src_activate_first_part,
         NULL, NULL);
+    splitmux->did_initial_measuring = TRUE;
   }
   SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
 
@@ -1460,7 +1506,7 @@ gst_splitmux_end_of_part (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux, SplitMuxSrcPad * splitpad)
         GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (splitpad,
             "First pad to change part. Activating part %d with seg %"
             GST_SEGMENT_FORMAT, next_part, &tmp);
-        add_to_active_readers (splitmux, splitpad->reader);
+        add_to_active_readers (splitmux, splitpad->reader, FALSE);
 
         if (!gst_splitmux_part_reader_activate (splitpad->reader, &tmp,
                 GST_SEEK_FLAG_NONE)) {
@@ -1468,6 +1514,7 @@ gst_splitmux_end_of_part (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux, SplitMuxSrcPad * splitpad)
         }
       }
       splitmux->cur_part = next_part;
+      schedule_lookahead_check (splitmux);
     }
 
     if (splitpad->part_pad)
@@ -1810,3 +1857,105 @@ gst_splitmuxsrc_add_fragment (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux,
   SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
   return TRUE;
 }
+
+static void
+do_lookahead_check (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux)
+{
+  SPLITMUX_SRC_LOCK (splitmux);
+  splitmux->lookahead_check_pending = FALSE;
+
+  if (!splitmux->running) {
+    goto done;
+  }
+
+  GST_OBJECT_LOCK (splitmux);
+  guint lookahead = splitmux->num_lookahead;
+  GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (splitmux);
+
+  if (splitmux->target_max_readers != 0 &&
+      splitmux->target_max_readers <= lookahead) {
+    /* Don't let lookahead activate more readers than the target */
+    lookahead = splitmux->target_max_readers - 1;
+  }
+  if (lookahead == 0) {
+    goto done;
+  }
+  if (splitmux->play_segment.rate > 0.0) {
+    /* Walk forward */
+    guint i;
+    gsize limit = splitmux->cur_part + lookahead;
+    if (limit >= splitmux->num_parts) {
+      /* Don't check past the end */
+      limit = splitmux->num_parts - 1;
+    }
+
+    for (i = splitmux->cur_part + 1; i <= limit; i++) {
+      GstSplitMuxPartReader *reader = splitmux->parts[i];
+
+      if (!gst_splitmux_part_reader_is_loaded (reader)) {
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (splitmux,
+            "Loading part %u reader %" GST_PTR_FORMAT " for lookahead (cur %u)",
+            i, reader, splitmux->cur_part);
+        gst_object_ref (reader);
+        add_to_active_readers (splitmux, reader, FALSE);
+        SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
+
+        /* Drop lock before calling activate, as it might call back
+         * into the splitmuxsrc when exposing pads */
+        gst_splitmux_part_reader_prepare (reader);
+        gst_object_unref (reader);
+        /* Only prepare one part at a time */
+        return;
+      }
+
+      /* Already active, but promote it in the LRU list */
+      add_to_active_readers (splitmux, reader, FALSE);
+    }
+  } else {
+    /* playing backward */
+    guint i;
+    gsize limit = 0;
+    if (splitmux->cur_part > lookahead) {
+      limit = splitmux->cur_part - lookahead;
+    }
+    for (i = splitmux->cur_part; i > limit; i--) {
+      GstSplitMuxPartReader *reader = splitmux->parts[i - 1];
+
+      if (!gst_splitmux_part_reader_is_loaded (reader)) {
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (splitmux,
+            "Loading part %u reader %" GST_PTR_FORMAT " for lookahead (cur %u)",
+            i - 1, reader, splitmux->cur_part);
+        gst_object_ref (reader);
+        add_to_active_readers (splitmux, reader, FALSE);
+        SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
+
+        /* Drop lock before calling activate, as it might call back
+         * into the splitmuxsrc when exposing pads */
+        gst_splitmux_part_reader_prepare (reader);
+        gst_object_unref (reader);
+        /* Only prepare one part at a time */
+        return;
+      }
+      /* Already active, but promote it in the LRU list */
+      add_to_active_readers (splitmux, reader, FALSE);
+    }
+  }
+
+done:
+  SPLITMUX_SRC_UNLOCK (splitmux);
+}
+
+/* Called with SPLITMUX lock held */
+static void
+schedule_lookahead_check (GstSplitMuxSrc * splitmux)
+{
+  if (splitmux->lookahead_check_pending || splitmux->num_lookahead == 0
+      || splitmux->target_max_readers == 0) {
+    /* No need to do lookahead checks */
+    return;
+  }
+  splitmux->lookahead_check_pending = TRUE;
+
+  gst_element_call_async (GST_ELEMENT_CAST (splitmux),
+      (GstElementCallAsyncFunc) do_lookahead_check, NULL, NULL);
+}
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsrc.h b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsrc.h
index 8d89e44afe..bea3801a7a 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsrc.h
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsrc.h
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ struct _GstSplitMuxSrc
 
   guint   target_max_readers; /* Maximum number of readers we try to keep open */
   GQueue *active_parts;
+
+  guint num_lookahead;
+  gboolean lookahead_check_pending;
 };
 
 struct _GstSplitMuxSrcClass
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/test-splitmuxpartreader.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/test-splitmuxpartreader.c
index 56a6a3cd4c..329761fd2b 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/test-splitmuxpartreader.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/test-splitmuxpartreader.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   /* Connect to prepare signal */
   g_signal_connect (data.reader, "prepared", (GCallback) part_prepared, &data);
   gst_splitmux_part_reader_set_callbacks (data.reader, &data,
-      (GstSplitMuxPartReaderPadCb) handle_get_pad, NULL);
+      (GstSplitMuxPartReaderPadCb) handle_get_pad, NULL, NULL);
 
   g_idle_add ((GSourceFunc) start_reader, &data);