diff --git a/internal/handlers/auth.go b/internal/handlers/auth.go
index b6809fc..e0b23bc 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/auth.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/auth.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func (h *Handlers) HandleLoginPage() http.HandlerFunc {
 			"Error": "",
 		}
 
-		h.renderTemplate(w, r, []string{"templates/base.html", "templates/login.html"}, data)
+		h.renderTemplate(w, r, "login.html", data)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func (h *Handlers) HandleLoginSubmit() http.HandlerFunc {
 				"Error": "Username and password are required",
 			}
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
-			h.renderTemplate(w, r, []string{"templates/base.html", "templates/login.html"}, data)
+			h.renderTemplate(w, r, "login.html", data)
 			return
 		}
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func (h *Handlers) HandleLoginSubmit() http.HandlerFunc {
 				"Error": "Invalid username or password",
 			}
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusUnauthorized)
-			h.renderTemplate(w, r, []string{"templates/base.html", "templates/login.html"}, data)
+			h.renderTemplate(w, r, "login.html", data)
 			return
 		}
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (h *Handlers) HandleLoginSubmit() http.HandlerFunc {
 				"Error": "Invalid username or password",
 			}
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusUnauthorized)
-			h.renderTemplate(w, r, []string{"templates/base.html", "templates/login.html"}, data)
+			h.renderTemplate(w, r, "login.html", data)
 			return
 		}
 
diff --git a/internal/handlers/handlers.go b/internal/handlers/handlers.go
index 0183668..2819730 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/handlers.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/handlers.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/webhooker/internal/healthcheck"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/webhooker/internal/logger"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/webhooker/internal/session"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/webhooker/templates"
 )
 
 // nolint:revive // HandlersParams is a standard fx naming convention
@@ -26,11 +27,20 @@ type HandlersParams struct {
 }
 
 type Handlers struct {
-	params  *HandlersParams
-	log     *slog.Logger
-	hc      *healthcheck.Healthcheck
-	db      *database.Database
-	session *session.Session
+	params    *HandlersParams
+	log       *slog.Logger
+	hc        *healthcheck.Healthcheck
+	db        *database.Database
+	session   *session.Session
+	templates map[string]*template.Template
+}
+
+// parsePageTemplate parses a page-specific template set from the embedded FS.
+// Each page template is combined with the shared base, htmlheader, and navbar templates.
+func parsePageTemplate(pageFile string) *template.Template {
+	return template.Must(
+		template.ParseFS(templates.Templates, "htmlheader.html", "navbar.html", "base.html", pageFile),
+	)
 }
 
 func New(lc fx.Lifecycle, params HandlersParams) (*Handlers, error) {
@@ -40,9 +50,16 @@ func New(lc fx.Lifecycle, params HandlersParams) (*Handlers, error) {
 	s.hc = params.Healthcheck
 	s.db = params.Database
 	s.session = params.Session
+
+	// Parse all page templates once at startup
+	s.templates = map[string]*template.Template{
+		"index.html":   parsePageTemplate("index.html"),
+		"login.html":   parsePageTemplate("login.html"),
+		"profile.html": parsePageTemplate("profile.html"),
+	}
+
 	lc.Append(fx.Hook{
 		OnStart: func(ctx context.Context) error {
-			// FIXME compile some templates here or something
 			return nil
 		},
 	})
@@ -80,16 +97,11 @@ type UserInfo struct {
 	Username string
 }
 
-// renderTemplate renders a template with common data
-func (s *Handlers) renderTemplate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, templateFiles []string, data interface{}) {
-	// Always include the common templates
-	allTemplates := []string{"templates/htmlheader.html", "templates/navbar.html"}
-	allTemplates = append(allTemplates, templateFiles...)
-
-	// Parse templates
-	tmpl, err := template.ParseFiles(allTemplates...)
-	if err != nil {
-		s.log.Error("failed to parse template", "error", err)
+// renderTemplate renders a pre-parsed template with common data
+func (s *Handlers) renderTemplate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, pageTemplate string, data interface{}) {
+	tmpl, ok := s.templates[pageTemplate]
+	if !ok {
+		s.log.Error("template not found", "template", pageTemplate)
 		http.Error(w, "Internal server error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
@@ -108,6 +120,16 @@ func (s *Handlers) renderTemplate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, templa
 		}
 	}
 
+	// If data is a map, merge user info into it
+	if m, ok := data.(map[string]interface{}); ok {
+		m["User"] = userInfo
+		if err := tmpl.Execute(w, m); err != nil {
+			s.log.Error("failed to execute template", "error", err)
+			http.Error(w, "Internal server error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
 	// Wrap data with base template data
 	type templateDataWrapper struct {
 		User *UserInfo
@@ -119,17 +141,6 @@ func (s *Handlers) renderTemplate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, templa
 		Data: data,
 	}
 
-	// If data is a map, merge user info into it
-	if m, ok := data.(map[string]interface{}); ok {
-		m["User"] = userInfo
-		if err := tmpl.Execute(w, m); err != nil {
-			s.log.Error("failed to execute template", "error", err)
-			http.Error(w, "Internal server error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
-		}
-		return
-	}
-
-	// Otherwise use wrapper
 	if err := tmpl.Execute(w, wrapper); err != nil {
 		s.log.Error("failed to execute template", "error", err)
 		http.Error(w, "Internal server error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
diff --git a/internal/handlers/handlers_test.go b/internal/handlers/handlers_test.go
index 83bf1dd..4acafca 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/handlers_test.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/handlers_test.go
@@ -87,10 +87,11 @@ func TestRenderTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 			"Version": "1.0.0",
 		}
 
-		// When templates don't exist, renderTemplate should return an error
-		h.renderTemplate(w, req, []string{"nonexistent.html"}, data)
+		// When a non-existent template name is requested, renderTemplate
+		// should return an internal server error
+		h.renderTemplate(w, req, "nonexistent.html", data)
 
-		// Should return internal server error when template parsing fails
+		// Should return internal server error when template is not found
 		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusInternalServerError, w.Code)
 	})
 }
diff --git a/internal/handlers/index.go b/internal/handlers/index.go
index fb1a068..a08c765 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/index.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/index.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func (s *Handlers) HandleIndex() http.HandlerFunc {
 		}
 
 		// Render the template
-		s.renderTemplate(w, req, []string{"templates/base.html", "templates/index.html"}, data)
+		s.renderTemplate(w, req, "index.html", data)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/handlers/profile.go b/internal/handlers/profile.go
index 2a36f12..88458be 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/profile.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/profile.go
@@ -54,6 +54,6 @@ func (h *Handlers) HandleProfile() http.HandlerFunc {
 		}
 
 		// Render the profile page
-		h.renderTemplate(w, r, []string{"templates/base.html", "templates/profile.html"}, data)
+		h.renderTemplate(w, r, "profile.html", data)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/templates/templates.go b/templates/templates.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a87ad61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/templates.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+package templates
+
+import (
+	"embed"
+)
+
+//go:embed *.html
+var Templates embed.FS