diff --git a/services/web/public/coffee/ide/pdf/controllers/PdfController.coffee b/services/web/public/coffee/ide/pdf/controllers/PdfController.coffee
index 559f23f03f..9b7c2d5bc8 100644
--- a/services/web/public/coffee/ide/pdf/controllers/PdfController.coffee
+++ b/services/web/public/coffee/ide/pdf/controllers/PdfController.coffee
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ define [
 ], (App, LogParser, BibLogParser) ->
 	App.controller "PdfController", ($scope, $http, ide, $modal, synctex, event_tracking, localStorage) ->
 
-		# enable per-user containers
-		perUserCompile = true
+		# enable per-user containers if querystring includes isolated=true
+		perUserCompile = window.location?.search?.match(/isolated=true/)? or undefined
 		autoCompile = true
 
 		# pdf.view = uncompiled | pdf | errors
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ define [
 			$scope.startedFreeTrial = true
 
 	App.factory "synctex", ["ide", "$http", "$q", (ide, $http, $q) ->
-		# enable per-user containers by default
-		perUserCompile = true
+		# enable per-user containers if querystring includes isolated=true
+		perUserCompile = window.location?.search?.match(/isolated=true/)? or undefined
 
 		synctex =
 			syncToPdf: (cursorPosition) ->