diff --git a/crates/notedeck/src/media/mod.rs b/crates/notedeck/src/media/mod.rs
index e9f3d3d..4971047 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck/src/media/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck/src/media/mod.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ pub use blur::{
     compute_blurhash, update_imeta_blurhashes, ImageMetadata, ObfuscationType, PixelDimensions,
     PointDimensions,
 };
+use egui::{ColorImage, TextureHandle};
 pub use images::ImageType;
 pub use renderable::RenderableMedia;
 
@@ -33,3 +34,18 @@ impl AnimationMode {
 
 // max size wgpu can handle without panicing
 pub const MAX_SIZE_WGPU: usize = 8192;
+
+pub fn load_texture_checked(
+    ctx: &egui::Context,
+    name: impl Into<String>,
+    image: ColorImage,
+    options: egui::TextureOptions,
+) -> TextureHandle {
+    let size = image.size;
+
+    if size[0] > MAX_SIZE_WGPU || size[1] > MAX_SIZE_WGPU {
+        panic!("The image MUST be less than or equal to {MAX_SIZE_WGPU} pixels in each direction");
+    }
+
+    ctx.load_texture(name, image, options)
+}