diff --git a/src/activity_actor.cpp b/src/activity_actor.cpp
index da5ffc80362a7..d00f10f330272 100644
--- a/src/activity_actor.cpp
+++ b/src/activity_actor.cpp
@@ -1776,6 +1776,11 @@ void read_activity_actor::start( player_activity &act, Character &who )
     add_msg_debug( debugmode::DF_ACT_READ, "reading time = %s",
                    to_string_writable( time_duration::from_moves( moves_total ) ) );
 
+    // starting the activity should cost a charge to boot up the ebook app
+    if( using_ereader ) {
+        ereader->ammo_consume( ereader->ammo_required(), who.pos(), &who );
+    }
+
     act.moves_total = moves_total;
     act.moves_left = moves_total;
 }
@@ -1814,7 +1819,9 @@ void read_activity_actor::do_turn( player_activity &act, Character &who )
             _( "<npcname> no longer has the e-book!" ) );
         who.cancel_activity();
         return;
-    } else if( using_ereader && !ereader->ammo_sufficient( &who ) ) {
+    }
+
+    if( using_ereader && !ereader->ammo_sufficient( &who ) ) {
         add_msg_if_player_sees(
             who,
             _( "%1$s %2$s ran out of batteries." ),
@@ -1823,6 +1830,17 @@ void read_activity_actor::do_turn( player_activity &act, Character &who )
         who.cancel_activity();
         return;
     }
+
+    if( using_ereader && calendar::once_every( 5_minutes ) ) {
+        /** Expected battery life while reading with common ereaders:
+                integrated_ar       - implant                                         = potentially infinite
+                ar_glasses_advanced - max 300 charges from disposable light battery   = 25 hours of reading
+                eink_tablet_pc      - max 300 charges from disposable light battery   = 25 hours of reading
+                laptop              - max 1200 charges from disposable medium battery = 100 hours of reading
+                smart_phone         - 120 UPS charges                                 = 10 hours of reading
+        */
+        ereader->ammo_consume( ereader->ammo_required(), who.pos(), &who );
+    }
 }
 
 void read_activity_actor::read_book( Character &learner,
diff --git a/tests/reading_test.cpp b/tests/reading_test.cpp
index 728ec0632d80b..dddb1c1f6981d 100644
--- a/tests/reading_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/reading_test.cpp
@@ -503,18 +503,27 @@ TEST_CASE( "reading_a_book_with_an_ebook_reader", "[reading][book][ereader]" )
             read_activity_actor actor( dummy.time_to_read( *booklc, dummy ), booklc, ereader, true );
             dummy.activity = player_activity( actor );
 
+            REQUIRE( ereader->ammo_remaining() == 100 );
+
             dummy.activity.start_or_resume( dummy, false );
             REQUIRE( dummy.activity.id() == ACT_READ );
+
+            CHECK( ereader->ammo_remaining() == 99 );
+
             dummy.activity.do_turn( dummy );
 
             CHECK( dummy.activity.id() == ACT_READ );
 
-            AND_THEN( "ereader runs out of battery" ) {
-                ereader->ammo_consume( 100, dummy.pos(), &dummy );
-                dummy.activity.do_turn( dummy );
+            AND_THEN( "ereader has spent a charge while reading" ) {
+                CHECK( ereader->ammo_remaining() == 98 );
+
+                AND_THEN( "ereader runs out of battery" ) {
+                    ereader->ammo_consume( ereader->ammo_remaining(), dummy.pos(), &dummy );
+                    dummy.activity.do_turn( dummy );
 
-                THEN( "reading stops" ) {
-                    CHECK( dummy.activity.id() != ACT_READ );
+                    THEN( "reading stops" ) {
+                        CHECK( dummy.activity.id() != ACT_READ );
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }