Embodiments provide techniques for deferring authentication and resource loading through the use of a local web server. One embodiment includes, upon receiving a request for remote web application content, at a local web server, from a client application, transmitting placeholder content to the client application. A remote web server is selected to fulfill the received request. Embodiments further include, upon determining that the remote web server is available to fulfill the received request, redirecting the client application to an address for the remote web server corresponding to the requested remote web application content.