diff --git a/boards/XIAOBLE.py b/boards/XIAOBLE.py
index ebb45e922..034e9d0f8 100644
--- a/boards/XIAOBLE.py
+++ b/boards/XIAOBLE.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
             "DEFINES += -DBLUETOOTH_NAME_PREFIX='\"XIAOBLE\"'",
             "DEFINES += -DSPIFLASH_READ2X",  # Read SPI flash at 2x speed using MISO and MOSI for IO
             "DEFINES += -DESPR_UNICODE_SUPPORT=1",
+            # "DEFINES += -DESPR_NO_BOOT_JS", # Skip boot js; allows recovering from .boot0 containing bad stuff
             "DEFINES += -DNRF_SDH_BLE_GATT_MAX_MTU_SIZE=131",  # 23+x*27 rule as per https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/44825/ios-mtu-size-why-only-185-bytes
             # 'DEFINES += -DPIN_NAMES_DIRECT=1', # Package skips out some pins, so we can't assume each port starts from 0
             "LDFLAGS += -Xlinker --defsym=LD_APP_RAM_BASE=0x2ec0",  # set RAM base to match MTU
diff --git a/src/jsflash.c b/src/jsflash.c
index 6fc9c99ea..b3ec9b410 100644
--- a/src/jsflash.c
+++ b/src/jsflash.c
@@ -1374,6 +1374,7 @@ JsVar *jsfGetBootCodeFromFlash(bool isReset) {
 
 bool jsfLoadBootCodeFromFlash(bool isReset) {
   // Load code in .bootFirst at first boot UNLESS BTN1 IS HELD DOWN (BTN3 for Dickens)
+#ifndef ESPR_NO_BOOT_JS
 #ifndef SAVE_ON_FLASH
 #if defined(BANGLEJS)
 #if defined(DICKENS)
@@ -1413,6 +1414,9 @@ bool jsfLoadBootCodeFromFlash(bool isReset) {
   if (!code) return false;
   jsvUnLock2(jspEvaluateVar(code,0,0), code);
   return true;
+#else
+  return false;
+#endif
 }
 
 bool jsfFlashContainsCode() {