diff --git a/cypress/e2e/claude-explain.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/claude-explain.cy.ts
index 4ce9cd7c1..3e7fe1622 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/claude-explain.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/claude-explain.cy.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ function setupClaudeExplainEnvironment() {
     // Set up configuration
     cy.visit('/', {
         onBeforeLoad: (win: any) => {
+            // TODO remove this when we make claude explain generally available.
+            win.localStorage.setItem('claudeExplainTest', 'enabled');
             stubConsoleOutput(win);
             win.compilerExplorerOptions = win.compilerExplorerOptions || {};
             win.compilerExplorerOptions.explainApiEndpoint = 'http://test.localhost/fake-api/explain';
diff --git a/etc/config/compiler-explorer.amazon.properties b/etc/config/compiler-explorer.amazon.properties
index 0236ebdd5..ff3dc8223 100644
--- a/etc/config/compiler-explorer.amazon.properties
+++ b/etc/config/compiler-explorer.amazon.properties
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ rescanCompilerSecs=3600
 sentryDsn=https://8e4614f649ad4e3faf3e7e8827b935f9@sentry.io/102028
 motdUrl=/motd/motd-prod.json
 pageloadUrl=https://lambda.compiler-explorer.com/pageload
+explainApiEndpoint=https://api.compiler-explorer.com/explain
 storageSolution=s3
 healthCheckFilePath=/efs/.health
 showSponsors=true
diff --git a/etc/config/compiler-explorer.beta.properties b/etc/config/compiler-explorer.beta.properties
index 9270ba4e2..e5e4d552e 100644
--- a/etc/config/compiler-explorer.beta.properties
+++ b/etc/config/compiler-explorer.beta.properties
@@ -3,6 +3,3 @@ httpRoot=/beta
 storageSolution=s3
 motdUrl=/motd/motd-beta.json
 sentryEnvironment=beta
-
-# Claude Explain API endpoint, for beta
-explainApiEndpoint=https://api.compiler-explorer.com/explain
diff --git a/static/panes/compiler.ts b/static/panes/compiler.ts
index 05978b014..9cae56a61 100644
--- a/static/panes/compiler.ts
+++ b/static/panes/compiler.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import * as Components from '../components.js';
 import {createDragSource} from '../components.js';
 import {Hub} from '../hub.js';
 import * as LibUtils from '../lib-utils.js';
+import {localStorage} from '../local.js';
 import * as monacoConfig from '../monaco-config.js';
 import {LanguageLibs} from '../options.interfaces.js';
 import {options} from '../options.js';
@@ -971,7 +972,8 @@ export class Compiler extends MonacoPane<monaco.editor.IStandaloneCodeEditor, Co
         this.initToolButtons();
 
         // Hide Claude Explain button if no API endpoint is configured
-        if (!options.explainApiEndpoint) {
+        // Or, temporarily, unless the user has manually opted in. TODO fix up the hack in UI tests too when we turn on.
+        if (!options.explainApiEndpoint || localStorage.get('claudeExplainTest', '') !== 'enabled') {
             this.explainButton.hide();
         }
     }