diff --git a/API.md b/API.md
index 078a42fc..c2169f3b 100644
--- a/API.md
+++ b/API.md
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ This document describes the available endpoints and their usage. All endpoints r
       - [Connection Events](#connection-events)
         - [`config_update`](#config_update)
         - [`connected`](#connected)
-        - [`active_queue`](#active_queue)
       - [Logging Events](#logging-events)
         - [`log_info`](#log_info)
         - [`log_success`](#log_success)
@@ -2742,29 +2741,6 @@ Emitted when a client successfully connects to the WebSocket.
 
 ---
 
-##### `active_queue`
-
-Emitted periodically with the current active queue status.
-
-**Event**:
-```json
-{
-  "event": "active_queue",
-  "data": {
-    "queue": [
-      {
-        "id": "abc123",
-        "status": "downloading",
-        "progress": 45.6,
-        ...
-      }
-    ]
-  }
-}
-```
-
----
-
 #### Logging Events
 
 ##### `log_info`
diff --git a/app/library/Events.py b/app/library/Events.py
index 2cef42a2..e6f5353f 100644
--- a/app/library/Events.py
+++ b/app/library/Events.py
@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ class Events:
 
     CONNECTED: str = "connected"
 
-    CONFIGURATION: str = "configuration"
     CONFIG_UPDATE: str = "config_update"
-    ACTIVE_QUEUE: str = "active_queue"
 
     LOG_INFO: str = "log_info"
     LOG_WARNING: str = "log_warning"
@@ -79,10 +77,8 @@ class Events:
 
         """
         return [
-            Events.CONFIGURATION,
             Events.CONFIG_UPDATE,
             Events.CONNECTED,
-            Events.ACTIVE_QUEUE,
             Events.LOG_INFO,
             Events.LOG_WARNING,
             Events.LOG_ERROR,
diff --git a/ui/app/layouts/default.vue b/ui/app/layouts/default.vue
index c15cac81..e02f7e14 100644
--- a/ui/app/layouts/default.vue
+++ b/ui/app/layouts/default.vue
@@ -135,10 +135,20 @@
       <div>
         <NuxtLoadingIndicator />
         <NuxtPage v-if="config.is_loaded" :isLoading="loadingImage" @reload_bg="() => loadImage(true)" />
-        <Message v-if="!config.is_loaded" class="is-info mt-5" title="Loading Configuration"
-          icon="fas fa-spinner fa-spin">
-          <p>This usually takes less than a second. If this is taking too long,
-            <NuxtLink class="button is-text p-0" @click="config.loadConfig">reload configuration</NuxtLink>.
+        <Message v-if="!config.is_loaded" class="mt-5"
+          :class="{ 'is-info': config.is_loading, 'is-danger': !config.is_loading }"
+          :title="config.is_loading ? 'Loading configuration...' : 'Failed to load configuration'"
+          :icon="config.is_loading ? 'fas fa-spinner fa-spin' : 'fas fa-triangle-exclamation'">
+          <p v-if="config.is_loading">
+            This usually takes less than a few seconds. If this is taking too long,
+            <NuxtLink class="button is-text p-0" @click="reloadPage">click here</NuxtLink> to reload the
+            page.
+          </p>
+          <p v-if="!config.is_loading">
+            Failed to load the application configuration. This likely indicates a problem with the backend. Try to
+            <NuxtLink class="button is-text p-0" @click="() => config.loadConfig(true)">reload
+              configuration</NuxtLink> or <NuxtLink class="button is-text p-0" @click="reloadPage">reload the page
+            </NuxtLink>.
           </p>
           <template v-if="socket.error">
             <hr>
diff --git a/ui/app/stores/ConfigStore.ts b/ui/app/stores/ConfigStore.ts
index 132be20e..87aab84e 100644
--- a/ui/app/stores/ConfigStore.ts
+++ b/ui/app/stores/ConfigStore.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ import type { Preset } from '~/types/presets';
 import type { ConfigFeature, ConfigUpdateAction } from '~/types/sockets';
 import { request } from '~/utils';
 
+let last_reload = 0;
+const CONFIG_TTL = 10;
+
 export const useConfigStore = defineStore('config', () => {
   const state = reactive<ConfigState>({
     showForm: useStorage('showForm', true),
@@ -54,14 +57,23 @@ export const useConfigStore = defineStore('config', () => {
     is_loading: false,
   });
 
-  const loadConfig = async () => {
+  const loadConfig = async (force: boolean = false) => {
     if (state.is_loading) {
       return;
     }
+    const now = Date.now()
+
+    if (state.is_loaded && !force && last_reload > 0) {
+      const age = (now - last_reload) / 1000
+      if (age < CONFIG_TTL) {
+        return
+      }
+    }
+
     state.is_loaded = false;
     state.is_loading = true;
     try {
-      const resp = await request('/api/system/configuration');
+      const resp = await request('/api/system/configuration', { timeout: 10 });
       if (!resp.ok) {
         return;
       }
@@ -79,11 +91,12 @@ export const useConfigStore = defineStore('config', () => {
       }
 
       setAll(data);
+      state.is_loaded = true;
+      last_reload = now;
     } catch (e: any) {
-      console.error('Failed to load configuration', e);
+      console.error(`Failed to load configuration: ${e}`);
     }
     finally {
-      state.is_loaded = true;
       state.is_loading = false;
     }
   }
diff --git a/ui/app/stores/SocketStore.ts b/ui/app/stores/SocketStore.ts
index 5ea9445e..2a7414dd 100644
--- a/ui/app/stores/SocketStore.ts
+++ b/ui/app/stores/SocketStore.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { ref, readonly } from 'vue'
 import { defineStore } from 'pinia'
-import type { ConfigState } from "~/types/config";
 import type { StoreItem } from "~/types/store";
 import type {
   ConfigUpdatePayload,
@@ -263,14 +262,7 @@ export const useSocketStore = defineStore('socket', () => {
     setupVisibilityListener()
   }
 
-  on('configuration', (data: WSEP['configuration']) => {
-    config.setAll({
-      app: data.data.config,
-      presets: data.data.presets,
-      dl_fields: data.data.dl_fields,
-      paused: Boolean(data.data.paused)
-    } as unknown as Partial<ConfigState>)
-  })
+  on('connect', () => config.loadConfig(false))
 
   on('connected', (data: WSEP['connected']) => {
     if (!data?.data) {
@@ -288,13 +280,6 @@ export const useSocketStore = defineStore('socket', () => {
     error.value = null
   })
 
-  on('active_queue', (data: WSEP['active_queue']) => {
-    if (!data.data.queue) {
-      return
-    }
-    stateStore.addAll('queue', data.data.queue || {})
-  })
-
   on('item_added', (data: WSEP['item_added']) => {
     stateStore.add('queue', data.data._id, data.data)
     toast.success(`Item queued: ${ag(stateStore.get('queue', data.data._id, {} as StoreItem), 'title')}`)
diff --git a/ui/app/types/sockets.d.ts b/ui/app/types/sockets.d.ts
index 463a4e76..ad576c98 100644
--- a/ui/app/types/sockets.d.ts
+++ b/ui/app/types/sockets.d.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import type { AppConfig, ConfigState } from "./config"
 import type { StoreItem } from "./store"
 
 export type Event = {
@@ -21,20 +20,11 @@ export type WSEP = {
   connect: null
   disconnect: null
   connect_error: { message?: string }
-  configuration: EventPayload<{
-    config: AppConfig
-    presets: ConfigState['presets']
-    dl_fields: ConfigState['dl_fields']
-    paused: boolean
-  }>
   connected: EventPayload<{
     folders?: string[]
     history_count?: number
     queue?: Record<string, StoreItem>
   }>
-  active_queue: EventPayload<{
-    queue?: Record<string, StoreItem>
-  }>
   item_added: EventPayload<StoreItem>
   item_updated: EventPayload<StoreItem>
   item_cancelled: EventPayload<StoreItem>
diff --git a/ui/app/utils/index.ts b/ui/app/utils/index.ts
index 6ccea475..dc08e6fa 100644
--- a/ui/app/utils/index.ts
+++ b/ui/app/utils/index.ts
@@ -228,25 +228,39 @@ const encodePath = (item: string): string => {
  * @param options - Optional fetch options, automatically extended with common headers and credentials.
  * @returns The fetch Response promise.
  */
-const request = (url: string, options: RequestInit = {}): Promise<Response> => {
-  options.method = options.method || 'GET'
-  options.headers = options.headers || {}; (options as any).withCredentials = true
+const request = (url: string, options: RequestInit & { timeout?: number } = {}): Promise<Response> => {
+  const { timeout, ...fetchOptions } = options
 
-  if (undefined === (options.headers as Record<string, any>)['Content-Type']) {
+  fetchOptions.method = fetchOptions.method || 'GET'
+  fetchOptions.headers = fetchOptions.headers || {};
+  (fetchOptions as any).withCredentials = true
+
+  if (undefined === (fetchOptions.headers as Record<string, any>)['Content-Type']) {
     if (!(options?.body instanceof FormData)) {
-      ; (options.headers as Record<string, any>)['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
+      ; (fetchOptions.headers as Record<string, any>)['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
     }
   }
 
-  if (undefined === (options.headers as Record<string, any>)['Accept']) {
-    ; (options.headers as Record<string, any>)['Accept'] = 'application/json'
+  if (undefined === (fetchOptions.headers as Record<string, any>)['Accept']) {
+    ; (fetchOptions.headers as Record<string, any>)['Accept'] = 'application/json'
   }
 
   if (url.startsWith('/')) {
-    options.credentials = 'same-origin'
+    fetchOptions.credentials = 'same-origin'
   }
 
-  return fetch(url.startsWith('/') ? uri(url) : url, options)
+  let controller: AbortController | undefined
+  let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
+
+  if (typeof timeout === 'number' && timeout > 0) {
+    controller = new AbortController()
+    fetchOptions.signal = controller.signal
+    timer = setTimeout(() => controller!.abort(`Request timed out.`), timeout*1000)
+  }
+
+  return fetch(url.startsWith('/') ? uri(url) : url, fetchOptions).finally(() => {
+    if (timer) { clearTimeout(timer) }
+  })
 }
 
 /**
@@ -879,10 +893,10 @@ const parse_api_error = async (json: unknown): Promise<string> => {
   }
 
   if (payload.error) {
-    return String(payload.error+(extra_detail ? ` - ${extra_detail}` : ''))
+    return String(payload.error + (extra_detail ? ` - ${extra_detail}` : ''))
   }
   if (payload.message) {
-    return String(payload.message+(extra_detail ? ` - ${extra_detail}` : ''))
+    return String(payload.message + (extra_detail ? ` - ${extra_detail}` : ''))
   }
 
   if (extra_detail) {