diff --git a/excalidraw-app/App.tsx b/excalidraw-app/App.tsx
index 60e9b3008..bb62a0e96 100644
--- a/excalidraw-app/App.tsx
+++ b/excalidraw-app/App.tsx
@@ -608,7 +608,13 @@ const ExcalidrawWrapper = () => {
           excalidrawAPI.getSceneElements(),
         )
       ) {
-        preventUnload(event);
+        if (import.meta.env.VITE_APP_DISABLE_PREVENT_UNLOAD !== "true") {
+          preventUnload(event);
+        } else {
+          console.warn(
+            "preventing unload disabled (VITE_APP_DISABLE_PREVENT_UNLOAD)",
+          );
+        }
       }
     };
     window.addEventListener(EVENT.BEFORE_UNLOAD, unloadHandler);
diff --git a/excalidraw-app/collab/Collab.tsx b/excalidraw-app/collab/Collab.tsx
index f6f763041..98c66e425 100644
--- a/excalidraw-app/collab/Collab.tsx
+++ b/excalidraw-app/collab/Collab.tsx
@@ -301,7 +301,13 @@ class Collab extends PureComponent<CollabProps, CollabState> {
       //  the purpose is to run in immediately after user decides to stay
       this.saveCollabRoomToFirebase(syncableElements);
 
-      preventUnload(event);
+      if (import.meta.env.VITE_APP_DISABLE_PREVENT_UNLOAD !== "true") {
+        preventUnload(event);
+      } else {
+        console.warn(
+          "preventing unload disabled (VITE_APP_DISABLE_PREVENT_UNLOAD)",
+        );
+      }
     }
   });