diff --git a/static/dev_reloader.mjs b/static/dev_reloader.mjs
index ee9b5c2..e9da95c 100644
--- a/static/dev_reloader.mjs
+++ b/static/dev_reloader.mjs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // flaky. Now we simply poll the shit out of the healthcheck endpoint.
 export function initDevReloader(healthzAddr, pollIntervalMs = 500) {
   // State model is implemented with variables and closures.
-  let auto = true;
+  let auto = !!sessionStorage.getItem("__dev_reloader_auto");
   let connected = false;
   let initialized = false;
   let interval;
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export function initDevReloader(healthzAddr, pollIntervalMs = 500) {
 
   function toggleAuto() {
     auto = !auto;
+    sessionStorage.setItem("__dev_reloader_auto", auto ? "present" : "");
     if (auto && !interval) {
       startInterval();
     } else if (!auto && interval) {
@@ -84,5 +85,7 @@ export function initDevReloader(healthzAddr, pollIntervalMs = 500) {
   button.appendChild(label);
   document.body.appendChild(button);
 
-  startInterval();
+  if (auto) {
+    startInterval();
+  }
 }