diff --git a/.changeset/cold-shoes-drum.md b/.changeset/cold-shoes-drum.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b087ebc9922a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/cold-shoes-drum.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@astrojs/prefetch": patch
+---
+
+Use `passive` event listeners for performance
diff --git a/packages/integrations/prefetch/src/client.ts b/packages/integrations/prefetch/src/client.ts
index 02661bb9d68c..187c808cb7bd 100644
--- a/packages/integrations/prefetch/src/client.ts
+++ b/packages/integrations/prefetch/src/client.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ let observer: IntersectionObserver;
 function observe(link: HTMLAnchorElement) {
 	preloaded.add(link.href);
 	observer.observe(link);
-	events.map((event) => link.addEventListener(event, onLinkEvent, { once: true }));
+	events.map((event) => link.addEventListener(event, onLinkEvent, { passive:true, once: true }));
 }
 
 function unobserve(link: HTMLAnchorElement) {