diff --git a/src/api/src/main.py b/src/api/src/main.py
index 2b91a82..6ee19ad 100644
--- a/src/api/src/main.py
+++ b/src/api/src/main.py
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ async def handle_download(
 
         logger.info(f"Retrieved story metadata and cover ({story_id=})")
 
+        book.compile()
+
         book_buffer = book.dump()
 
         async def iterfile():