diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/paged_mode.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/paged_mode.pyj
index 9d87088bbb..4cd35d220a 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/paged_mode.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/paged_mode.pyj
@@ -282,6 +282,8 @@ def layout(is_single_page, on_resize):
     # the window inline dimension, with their separator margins
     wi = col_size = screen_inline = scroll_viewport.inline_size()
     margin_size = (opts.margin_left + opts.margin_right) if scroll_viewport.horizontal_writing_mode else (opts.margin_top + opts.margin_bottom)
+    # a zero margin causes scrolling issues, see https://bugs.launchpad.net/calibre/+bug/1918437
+    margin_size = max(1, margin_size)
     gap = margin_size
     if n > 1:
         # Adjust the margin so that the window inline dimension satisfies