diff --git a/js/vibe-config.js b/js/vibe-config.js
index 21a8d45..0811ce2 100644
--- a/js/vibe-config.js
+++ b/js/vibe-config.js
@@ -43,6 +43,6 @@ require.config( {
     VIBE: '.'
   },
 
-  // optional cache bust to make browser refresh load all included scripts, can be enabled with ?cacheBust
+  // Cache busting is applied by default, but can be disabled via ?cacheBust=false, see initialize-globals.js
   urlArgs: phet.chipper.getCacheBustArgs()
 } );
diff --git a/vibe_en.html b/vibe_en.html
index c9cf35b..70c80fa 100644
--- a/vibe_en.html
+++ b/vibe_en.html
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@
   const brandMatch = location.search.match( /brand=([^&]+)/ );
   const brand = brandMatch ? decodeURIComponent( brandMatch[ 1 ] ) : 'adapted-from-phet';
 
-  // matches "cacheBust" at the start of the string, as well as directly after "?" or "&"
-  const cacheBust = /(^|\?|&)cacheBust/.test( location.search );
-  const queryAppend = cacheBust ? `?bust=${Date.now()}` : '';
+  // Cache busting is applied by default, but can be disabled via ?cacheBust=false, see initialize-globals.js
+  const isCacheBustDisabled = /(^|\?|&)cacheBust=false/.test( location.search );
+  const queryAppend = isCacheBustDisabled ? '' : `?bust=${Date.now()}`;
 
   // Preloads, with more included for phet-io brand
   let preloads = [