diff --git a/src/hooks/encryption/useDecryptContent.js b/src/hooks/encryption/useDecryptContent.js
index 2eae6f9..3d46f0a 100644
--- a/src/hooks/encryption/useDecryptContent.js
+++ b/src/hooks/encryption/useDecryptContent.js
@@ -29,17 +29,25 @@ export const useDecryptContent = () => {
         return await inProgressMap.current.get(cacheKey);
       } catch (error) {
         // If the existing promise rejects, we'll try again below
-        console.warn('Previous decryption attempt failed, retrying');
+        if (error.name !== 'AbortError') {
+          console.warn('Previous decryption attempt failed, retrying');
+        }
       }
     }
     
+    // Create abort controller for this request
+    const abortController = new AbortController();
+    
     // Create a new decryption promise for this content
     const decryptPromise = (async () => {
       try {
         setIsLoading(true);
         setError(null);
         
-        const response = await axios.post('/api/decrypt', { encryptedContent });
+        const response = await axios.post('/api/decrypt', 
+          { encryptedContent }, 
+          { signal: abortController.signal }
+        );
         
         if (response.status !== 200) {
           throw new Error(`Failed to decrypt: ${response.statusText}`);
@@ -52,6 +60,11 @@ export const useDecryptContent = () => {
         
         return decryptedContent;
       } catch (error) {
+        // Handle abort errors specifically
+        if (axios.isCancel(error)) {
+          throw new DOMException('Decryption aborted', 'AbortError');
+        }
+        
         setError(error.message || 'Decryption failed');
         // Re-throw to signal failure to awaiter
         throw error;
@@ -62,9 +75,19 @@ export const useDecryptContent = () => {
       }
     })();
     
-    // Store the promise in our map
+    // Store the promise and abort controller in our map
+    const abortablePromise = {
+      promise: decryptPromise,
+      abort: () => abortController.abort()
+    };
+    
     inProgressMap.current.set(cacheKey, decryptPromise);
     
+    // Function to handle timeouts from parent callers
+    decryptPromise.cancel = () => {
+      abortController.abort();
+    };
+    
     // Return the promise
     try {
       return await decryptPromise;
diff --git a/src/pages/course/[slug]/index.js b/src/pages/course/[slug]/index.js
index 4a92a1e..b03be74 100644
--- a/src/pages/course/[slug]/index.js
+++ b/src/pages/course/[slug]/index.js
@@ -196,19 +196,32 @@ const useDecryption = (session, paidCourse, course, lessons, setLessons, router)
       processingRef.current = true;
       setLoading(true);
       
+      // Start the decryption process
+      const decryptionPromise = decryptContent(currentLesson.content);
+      
       // Add safety timeout to prevent infinite processing
-      const timeoutPromise = new Promise((_, reject) => 
-        setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('Decryption timeout')), 10000)
-      );
+      let timeoutId;
+      const timeoutPromise = new Promise((_, reject) => {
+        timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
+          // Cancel the in-flight request when timeout occurs
+          if (decryptionPromise.cancel) {
+            decryptionPromise.cancel();
+          }
+          reject(new Error('Decryption timeout'));
+        }, 10000);
+      });
       
       // Use a separate try-catch for the race
       let decryptedContent;
       try {
         // Race between decryption and timeout
         decryptedContent = await Promise.race([
-          decryptContent(currentLesson.content),
+          decryptionPromise,
           timeoutPromise
         ]);
+        
+        // Clear the timeout if decryption wins
+        clearTimeout(timeoutId);
       } catch (error) {
         // If timeout or network error, schedule a retry
         setTimeout(() => {