diff --git a/phpBB/config/default/container/services_cron.yml b/phpBB/config/default/container/services_cron.yml
index 44030c1750..0117339e29 100644
--- a/phpBB/config/default/container/services_cron.yml
+++ b/phpBB/config/default/container/services_cron.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ services:
             - '@routing.helper'
             - '%core.root_path%'
             - '%core.php_ext%'
+            - '@template'
 
     cron.lock_db:
         class: phpbb\lock\db
diff --git a/phpBB/phpbb/controller/helper.php b/phpBB/phpbb/controller/helper.php
index 3262e6bbc4..9c564f55ae 100644
--- a/phpBB/phpbb/controller/helper.php
+++ b/phpBB/phpbb/controller/helper.php
@@ -363,8 +363,8 @@ class helper
 
 			if ($task)
 			{
-				$url = $task->get_url();
-				$this->template->assign_var('RUN_CRON_TASK', '<img src="' . $url . '" width="1" height="1" alt="cron" />');
+				$cron_task_tag = $task->get_html_tag();
+				$this->template->assign_var('RUN_CRON_TASK', $cron_task_tag);
 			}
 			else
 			{
diff --git a/phpBB/phpbb/cron/manager.php b/phpBB/phpbb/cron/manager.php
index a8fdb13857..f717f23a6c 100644
--- a/phpBB/phpbb/cron/manager.php
+++ b/phpBB/phpbb/cron/manager.php
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ class manager
 	 */
 	protected $php_ext;
 
+	/**
+	 * @var \phpbb\template\template
+	 */
+	protected $template;
+
 	/**
 	* Constructor. Loads all available tasks.
 	*
@@ -66,13 +71,15 @@ class manager
 	* @param helper $routing_helper Routing helper
 	* @param string $phpbb_root_path Relative path to phpBB root
 	* @param string $php_ext PHP file extension
+	* @param \phpbb\template\template $template
 	*/
-	public function __construct(ContainerInterface $phpbb_container, helper $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $php_ext)
+	public function __construct(ContainerInterface $phpbb_container, helper $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $php_ext, $template)
 	{
 		$this->phpbb_container = $phpbb_container;
 		$this->routing_helper = $routing_helper;
 		$this->phpbb_root_path = $phpbb_root_path;
 		$this->php_ext = $php_ext;
+		$this->template = $template;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -193,6 +200,6 @@ class manager
 	*/
 	public function wrap_task(\phpbb\cron\task\task $task)
 	{
-		return new wrapper($task, $this->routing_helper, $this->phpbb_root_path, $this->php_ext);
+		return new wrapper($task, $this->routing_helper, $this->phpbb_root_path, $this->php_ext, $this->template);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/phpBB/phpbb/cron/task/wrapper.php b/phpBB/phpbb/cron/task/wrapper.php
index 4dc3a7fb95..58de195acf 100644
--- a/phpBB/phpbb/cron/task/wrapper.php
+++ b/phpBB/phpbb/cron/task/wrapper.php
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ class wrapper
 	 */
 	protected $php_ext;
 
+	/**
+	 * @var \phpbb\template\template
+	 */
+	protected $template;
+
 	/**
 	* Constructor.
 	*
@@ -50,13 +55,15 @@ class wrapper
 	* @param helper	$routing_helper		Routing helper for route generation
 	* @param string	$phpbb_root_path	Relative path to phpBB root
 	* @param string	$php_ext			PHP file extension
+	* @param \phpbb\template\template	$template
 	*/
-	public function __construct(task $task, helper $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $php_ext)
+	public function __construct(task $task, helper $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $php_ext, $template)
 	{
 		$this->task = $task;
 		$this->routing_helper = $routing_helper;
 		$this->phpbb_root_path = $phpbb_root_path;
 		$this->php_ext = $php_ext;
+		$this->template = $template;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -105,6 +112,23 @@ class wrapper
 		return $this->routing_helper->route('phpbb_cron_run', $params);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns HTML for an invisible `img` tag that can be displayed on page
+	 * load to trigger a request to the relevant cron task endpoint.
+	 *
+	 * @return string       HTML to render to trigger cron task
+	 */
+	public function get_html_tag()
+	{
+		$this->template->set_filenames([
+			'cron_html_tag' => 'cron.html',
+		]);
+
+		$this->template->assign_var('CRON_TASK_URL', $this->get_url());
+
+		return $this->template->assign_display('cron_html_tag');
+	}
+
 	/**
 	* Forwards all other method calls to the wrapped task implementation.
 	*
diff --git a/phpBB/styles/all/template/cron.html b/phpBB/styles/all/template/cron.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5e4c901263
--- /dev/null
+++ b/phpBB/styles/all/template/cron.html
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{#
+	Runs the cron task by triggering server request to the URL on load. `img` is
+	preferred over JS to ensure maximum compatibility. We use `class="sr-only"`
+	to hide visually and `aria-hidden="true"` to hide from screen-readers; using
+	`hidden` or `display: none` would prevent the task from running.
+#}
+<img class="sr-only" aria-hidden="true" src="{{ CRON_TASK_URL|e('html_attr') }}" width="1" height="1" alt="">
diff --git a/phpBB/styles/prosilver/template/overall_footer.html b/phpBB/styles/prosilver/template/overall_footer.html
index c07c1e1de2..5d872e2415 100644
--- a/phpBB/styles/prosilver/template/overall_footer.html
+++ b/phpBB/styles/prosilver/template/overall_footer.html
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 
 <div>
 	<a id="bottom" class="anchor" accesskey="z"></a>
-	<!-- IF not S_IS_BOT -->{RUN_CRON_TASK}<!-- ENDIF -->
+	{% if not S_IS_BOT %}{{ RUN_CRON_TASK }}{% endif %}
 </div>
 
 <script src="{T_JQUERY_LINK}"></script>
diff --git a/phpBB/viewforum.php b/phpBB/viewforum.php
index f070e0400f..7f5cdd34da 100644
--- a/phpBB/viewforum.php
+++ b/phpBB/viewforum.php
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ if (!$config['use_system_cron'])
 
 	if ($task->is_ready())
 	{
-		$url = $task->get_url();
-		$template->assign_var('RUN_CRON_TASK', '<img src="' . $url . '" width="1" height="1" alt="cron" />');
+		$cron_task_tag = $task->get_html_tag();
+		$template->assign_var('RUN_CRON_TASK', $cron_task_tag);
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -255,8 +255,8 @@ if (!$config['use_system_cron'])
 
 		if ($task->is_ready())
 		{
-			$url = $task->get_url();
-			$template->assign_var('RUN_CRON_TASK', '<img src="' . $url . '" width="1" height="1" alt="cron" />');
+			$cron_task_tag = $task->get_html_tag();
+			$template->assign_var('RUN_CRON_TASK', $cron_task_tag);
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tests/console/cron/cron_list_test.php b/tests/console/cron/cron_list_test.php
index 30e93a7850..4694451ab3 100644
--- a/tests/console/cron/cron_list_test.php
+++ b/tests/console/cron/cron_list_test.php
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class phpbb_console_command_cron_list_test extends phpbb_test_case
 		$mock_container = new phpbb_mock_container_builder();
 		$mock_container->set('cron.task_collection', []);
 
-		$this->cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $pathEx);
+		$this->cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $pathEx, null);
 		$this->cron_manager->load_tasks($tasks);
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/console/cron/run_test.php b/tests/console/cron/run_test.php
index 205ff821b5..b5d7656ec0 100644
--- a/tests/console/cron/run_test.php
+++ b/tests/console/cron/run_test.php
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class phpbb_console_command_cron_run_test extends phpbb_database_test_case
 		$mock_container = new phpbb_mock_container_builder();
 		$mock_container->set('cron.task_collection', []);
 
-		$this->cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx);
+		$this->cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx, null);
 		$this->cron_manager->load_tasks($tasks);
 
 		$this->assertSame('0', $config['cron_lock']);
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ class phpbb_console_command_cron_run_test extends phpbb_database_test_case
 		$mock_container = new phpbb_mock_container_builder();
 		$mock_container->set('cron.task_collection', []);
 
-		$this->cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx);
+		$this->cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx, null);
 		$this->cron_manager->load_tasks($tasks);
 
 		$command_tester = $this->get_command_tester();
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ class phpbb_console_command_cron_run_test extends phpbb_database_test_case
 		$mock_container = new phpbb_mock_container_builder();
 		$mock_container->set('cron.task_collection', []);
 
-		$this->cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx);
+		$this->cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx, null);
 		$this->cron_manager->load_tasks($tasks);
 
 		$command_tester = $this->get_command_tester();
diff --git a/tests/controller/common_helper_route.php b/tests/controller/common_helper_route.php
index b565f17f1a..be755593c7 100644
--- a/tests/controller/common_helper_route.php
+++ b/tests/controller/common_helper_route.php
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ abstract class phpbb_controller_common_helper_route extends phpbb_database_test_
 			$this->auth,
 			$this->cache,
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, $this->root_path, 'php', null),
 			$this->db,
 			$this->dispatcher,
 			$this->language,
diff --git a/tests/cron/manager_test.php b/tests/cron/manager_test.php
index ea8ebc05dc..99bcf4cc59 100644
--- a/tests/cron/manager_test.php
+++ b/tests/cron/manager_test.php
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class phpbb_cron_manager_test extends \phpbb_test_case
 		$mock_container = new phpbb_mock_container_builder();
 		$mock_container->set('cron.task_collection', []);
 
-		$cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx);
+		$cron_manager = new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $routing_helper, $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx, null);
 		$cron_manager->load_tasks($tasks);
 
 		return $cron_manager;
diff --git a/tests/pagination/pagination_test.php b/tests/pagination/pagination_test.php
index aa192a7040..58557bca52 100644
--- a/tests/pagination/pagination_test.php
+++ b/tests/pagination/pagination_test.php
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class phpbb_pagination_pagination_test extends phpbb_template_template_test_case
 			new \phpbb\auth\auth(),
 			new \phpbb\cache\driver\dummy(),
 			$this->config,
-			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, '', 'php'),
+			new \phpbb\cron\manager($mock_container, $this->routing_helper, '', 'php', null),
 			$db,
 			new phpbb_mock_event_dispatcher(),
 			new \phpbb\language\language(new \phpbb\language\language_file_loader($phpbb_root_path, $phpEx)),