diff --git a/.readthedocs.yml b/.readthedocs.yml
index e1ab16a6..597cc5de 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ build:
     pre_build:
       # Generate the Sphinx configuration for this Jupyter Book so it builds.
       - "jupyter-book config sphinx docs/source/"
+      # Create font cache ahead of jupyter book
+      - 'python -c "import matplotlib.pyplot as plt"'
+      # Get the API documentation dynamically
       - "sphinx-apidoc -f -o docs/source/ src/caustics/"
 
 python: