diff --git a/tui/email_view.go b/tui/email_view.go
index 6ba73fc..3a519eb 100644
--- a/tui/email_view.go
+++ b/tui/email_view.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package tui
 import (
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/viewport"
@@ -12,6 +13,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/floatpane/matcha/view"
 )
 
+// clearKittyGraphics sends the Kitty graphics protocol delete command directly to stdout
+func clearKittyGraphics() {
+	// Delete all images: a=d (action=delete), d=A (delete all)
+	os.Stdout.WriteString("\x1b_Ga=d,d=A\x1b\\")
+	os.Stdout.Sync()
+}
+
 var (
 	emailHeaderStyle   = lipgloss.NewStyle().BorderStyle(lipgloss.NormalBorder()).BorderBottom(true).Padding(0, 1)
 	attachmentBoxStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Border(lipgloss.NormalBorder(), false, false, false, true).PaddingLeft(2).MarginTop(1)
@@ -74,7 +82,8 @@ func (m *EmailView) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 				m.focusOnAttachments = false
 				return m, nil
 			}
-			m.viewport.SetContent("\x1b_Ga=d\x1b\\")
+			// Clear Kitty graphics before returning to mailbox
+			clearKittyGraphics()
 			return m, func() tea.Msg { return BackToMailboxMsg{Mailbox: m.mailbox} }
 		}
 
@@ -110,16 +119,22 @@ func (m *EmailView) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		} else {
 			switch msg.String() {
 			case "r":
+				// Clear Kitty graphics before opening composer
+				clearKittyGraphics()
 				return m, func() tea.Msg { return ReplyToEmailMsg{Email: m.email} }
 			case "d":
 				accountID := m.accountID
 				uid := m.email.UID
+				// Clear Kitty graphics before transitioning
+				clearKittyGraphics()
 				return m, func() tea.Msg {
 					return DeleteEmailMsg{UID: uid, AccountID: accountID, Mailbox: m.mailbox}
 				}
 			case "a":
 				accountID := m.accountID
 				uid := m.email.UID
+				// Clear Kitty graphics before transitioning
+				clearKittyGraphics()
 				return m, func() tea.Msg {
 					return ArchiveEmailMsg{UID: uid, AccountID: accountID, Mailbox: m.mailbox}
 				}