diff --git a/system/netlify/functions/index.mjs b/system/netlify/functions/index.mjs
index 918cbff5f2..4ffc2b67f8 100644
--- a/system/netlify/functions/index.mjs
+++ b/system/netlify/functions/index.mjs
@@ -1141,14 +1141,20 @@ async function fun(event, context) {
             window.acSTARTING_HASH = hash;
           })();
         </script>
-        <!-- 🚀 Eager WebSocket connection - starts BEFORE boot.mjs loads -->
+        <!-- Optional WebSocket module transport for local development. -->
         <script>
           (function() {
-            // Start WebSocket connection immediately for faster module loading
-            // boot.mjs will pick up this connection via window.acEarlyWS
-            try {
-              var isLocal = location.hostname === 'localhost' || location.hostname === '127.0.0.1';
-              var wsUrl = isLocal ? 'wss://localhost:8889' : 'wss://session-server.aesthetic.computer';
+            // Production boots core modules over HTTP. Keep this transport for
+            // local hot reload and explicit module-loader diagnostics only.
+            try {
+              var isLocal = location.hostname === 'localhost' || location.hostname === '127.0.0.1';
+              var moduleWsParam = new URLSearchParams(location.search).get('modulews');
+              var moduleWsEnabled = isLocal || moduleWsParam === '1' || moduleWsParam === 'true';
+              if (!moduleWsEnabled) {
+                window.acEarlyWS = null;
+                return;
+              }
+              var wsUrl = isLocal ? 'wss://localhost:8889' : 'wss://session-server.aesthetic.computer';
               var ws = new WebSocket(wsUrl);
               var connected = false;
               var connectPromise = new Promise(function(resolve) {
@@ -1196,10 +1202,9 @@ async function fun(event, context) {
           type="module"
           defer
         ></script>
-        ${dev ? `<!-- Modulepreload for module-loader (needed for fast WebSocket connection) -->
-        <link rel="modulepreload" href="/aesthetic.computer/module-loader.mjs" />` : `<!-- Modulepreload hints for critical path modules (parallel fetch) -->
-        <link rel="modulepreload" href="/aesthetic.computer/module-loader.mjs" />
-        <link rel="modulepreload" href="/aesthetic.computer/bios.mjs" />
+        ${dev ? `<!-- Modulepreload for module-loader (needed for fast WebSocket connection) -->
+        <link rel="modulepreload" href="/aesthetic.computer/module-loader.mjs" />` : `<!-- Modulepreload hints for critical path modules (parallel fetch) -->
+        <link rel="modulepreload" href="/aesthetic.computer/bios.mjs" />
         <link rel="modulepreload" href="/aesthetic.computer/lib/parse.mjs" />
         <link rel="modulepreload" href="/aesthetic.computer/lib/disk.mjs" />
         <link rel="modulepreload" href="/aesthetic.computer/lib/graph.mjs" />
diff --git a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/boot.mjs b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/boot.mjs
index 23d90948b1..c29af375c7 100644
--- a/system/public/aesthetic.computer/boot.mjs
+++ b/system/public/aesthetic.computer/boot.mjs
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 // `aesthetic.computer` Bootstrap, 23.02.16.19.23
 
-// 📦 Early WebSocket module loader initialization
-// This runs before anything else to establish connection ASAP
-// Skip in PACK mode (NFT bundles use import maps)
-let moduleLoader = null;
-let moduleLoaderReady = Promise.resolve(false); // Promise that resolves when loader is ready
-
-if (!window.acPACK_MODE) {
+// 📦 Optional WebSocket module loader for local hot reload and diagnostics.
+let moduleLoader = null;
+let moduleLoaderReady = Promise.resolve(false); // Promise that resolves when loader is ready
+const moduleWsParam = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get("modulews");
+const moduleWsEnabled =
+  window.location.hostname === "localhost" ||
+  window.location.hostname === "127.0.0.1" ||
+  moduleWsParam === "1" ||
+  moduleWsParam === "true";
+
+if (!window.acPACK_MODE && moduleWsEnabled) {
   try {
     // Dynamic import of module-loader (this one file loads via HTTP)
     const { moduleLoader: ml } = await import("./module-loader.mjs");