diff --git a/static/js/feature_flags.js b/static/js/feature_flags.js
index 633ccda116..9edf771d44 100644
--- a/static/js/feature_flags.js
+++ b/static/js/feature_flags.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ exports.left_side_userlist = page_params.staging ||
 
 // Still very beta:
 exports.fade_users_when_composing = page_params.staging || is_customer4;
-exports.use_socket = page_params.staging;
+exports.use_socket = page_params.staging && ! page_params.debug_mode;
 
 
 // Still burning in...