diff --git a/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonMain/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyList.kt b/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonMain/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyList.kt
index 6cedec7f70..ec36e94eda 100644
--- a/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonMain/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyList.kt
+++ b/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonMain/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyList.kt
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ import app.cash.redwood.layout.api.CrossAxisAlignment
 import app.cash.redwood.ui.Margin
 import kotlin.jvm.JvmName
 
-private const val OFFSCREEN_ITEMS_BUFFER_COUNT = 30
-
 @Composable
 internal fun LazyList(
   isVertical: Boolean,
@@ -45,8 +43,8 @@ internal fun LazyList(
 ) {
   val itemProvider = rememberLazyListItemProvider(content)
   val itemCount = itemProvider.itemCount
-  val itemsBefore = (state.firstIndex - OFFSCREEN_ITEMS_BUFFER_COUNT / 2).coerceAtLeast(0)
-  val itemsAfter = (itemCount - (state.lastIndex + OFFSCREEN_ITEMS_BUFFER_COUNT / 2).coerceAtMost(itemCount)).coerceAtLeast(0)
+  val itemsBefore = (state.firstIndex - state.preloadBeforeItemCount).coerceAtLeast(0)
+  val itemsAfter = (itemCount - (state.lastIndex + state.preloadAfterItemCount).coerceAtMost(itemCount)).coerceAtLeast(0)
   // TODO(jwilson): drop this down to 20 once this is fixed:
   //     https://github.com/cashapp/redwood/issues/1551
   var placeholderPoolSize by remember { mutableStateOf(30) }
@@ -98,8 +96,8 @@ internal fun RefreshableLazyList(
 ) {
   val itemProvider = rememberLazyListItemProvider(content)
   val itemCount = itemProvider.itemCount
-  val itemsBefore = (state.firstIndex - OFFSCREEN_ITEMS_BUFFER_COUNT / 2).coerceAtLeast(0)
-  val itemsAfter = (itemCount - (state.lastIndex + OFFSCREEN_ITEMS_BUFFER_COUNT / 2).coerceAtMost(itemCount)).coerceAtLeast(0)
+  val itemsBefore = (state.firstIndex - state.preloadBeforeItemCount).coerceAtLeast(0)
+  val itemsAfter = (itemCount - (state.lastIndex + state.preloadAfterItemCount).coerceAtMost(itemCount)).coerceAtLeast(0)
   var placeholderPoolSize by remember { mutableStateOf(20) }
   RefreshableLazyList(
     isVertical,
diff --git a/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonMain/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyListState.kt b/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonMain/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyListState.kt
index 4732546b7b..dcf78cfdf4 100644
--- a/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonMain/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyListState.kt
+++ b/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonMain/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyListState.kt
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.saveable.rememberSaveable
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import app.cash.redwood.lazylayout.api.ScrollItemIndex
 
+private const val DEFAULT_PRELOAD_ITEM_COUNT = 15
+
 @Composable
 public fun rememberLazyListState(): LazyListState {
   return rememberSaveable(saver = saver) {
@@ -59,6 +61,12 @@ public open class LazyListState {
   public var lastIndex: Int by mutableStateOf(0)
     private set
 
+  /** How many items to load in anticipation of scrolling up. */
+  public var preloadBeforeItemCount: Int by mutableStateOf(DEFAULT_PRELOAD_ITEM_COUNT)
+
+  /** How many items to load in anticipation of scrolling down. */
+  public var preloadAfterItemCount: Int by mutableStateOf(DEFAULT_PRELOAD_ITEM_COUNT)
+
   /** Perform a programmatic scroll. */
   public fun programmaticScroll(
     firstIndex: Int,
diff --git a/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonTest/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyListTest.kt b/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonTest/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyListTest.kt
index b57d2fcc88..97f35aaa29 100644
--- a/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonTest/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyListTest.kt
+++ b/redwood-lazylayout-compose/src/commonTest/kotlin/app/cash/redwood/lazylayout/compose/LazyListTest.kt
@@ -110,4 +110,55 @@ class LazyListTest {
       }
     }
   }
+
+  @Test
+  fun scrollDoesNotTriggerRecompose() = runTest {
+    TestSchemaTester {
+      var index5ComposeCount = 0
+      setContent {
+        val lazyListState = rememberLazyListState().apply {
+          preloadBeforeItemCount = 0
+          preloadAfterItemCount = 0
+        }
+        LazyColumn(
+          state = lazyListState,
+          placeholder = { Text("Placeholder") },
+        ) {
+          items(100) {
+            if (it == 5) index5ComposeCount++
+            Text(it.toString())
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Initially, the item at index 5 is never composed.
+      val lazyList = awaitSnapshot().filterIsInstance<LazyListValue>().single()
+      assertThat(index5ComposeCount).isEqualTo(0)
+
+      // Growing the scroll window to include the preceding item doesn't change that.
+      lazyList.onViewportChanged(0, 4)
+      awaitSnapshot()
+      assertThat(index5ComposeCount).isEqualTo(0)
+
+      // But scrolling to include it causes the first composition.
+      lazyList.onViewportChanged(2, 6)
+      awaitSnapshot()
+      assertThat(index5ComposeCount).isEqualTo(1)
+
+      // Further scrolling doesn't cause it to be recomposed.
+      lazyList.onViewportChanged(4, 8)
+      awaitSnapshot()
+      assertThat(index5ComposeCount).isEqualTo(1)
+
+      // Even when it's scrolled off-screen.
+      lazyList.onViewportChanged(6, 10)
+      awaitSnapshot()
+      assertThat(index5ComposeCount).isEqualTo(1)
+
+      // But it's recomposed again when scrolled back on screen.
+      lazyList.onViewportChanged(4, 8)
+      awaitSnapshot()
+      assertThat(index5ComposeCount).isEqualTo(2)
+    }
+  }
 }