diff --git a/lib/less/browser.js b/lib/less/browser.js
index 8e2141a4..a1bb3acf 100644
--- a/lib/less/browser.js
+++ b/lib/less/browser.js
@@ -10,15 +10,14 @@ less.env = location.hostname == '127.0.0.1' ||
            location.protocol == 'file:'     ? 'development'
                                             : 'production';
 
+less.watch   = function () { return this.watchMode = true };
+less.unwatch = function () { return this.watchMode = false };
 
 // Load the stylesheets when the body is ready
 var readyTimer = setInterval(function () {
     if (document.body) {
-        if (!document.querySelectorAll && typeof(jQuery) === "undefined") {
-            log("No selector method found");
-        } else {
-            sheets = (document.querySelectorAll || jQuery).call(document, 'link[rel="stylesheet/less"]');
-        }
+        sheets = select('link[rel="stylesheet/less"]');
+
         clearInterval(readyTimer);
 
         loadStyleSheets(function (root, sheet, env) {
@@ -32,12 +31,16 @@ var readyTimer = setInterval(function () {
     }
 }, 10);
 
+if (less.env === 'development' && /!refresh/.test(location.hash)) {
+    less.watchMode = true;
+}
+
 //
 // Auto-refresh
 //
 if (less.env === 'development') {
     refreshTimer = setInterval(function () {
-        if (/!refresh/.test(location.hash)) {
+        if (less.watchMode) {
             loadStyleSheets(function (root, sheet, lastModified) {
                 if (root) {
                     createCSS(root.toCSS(), sheet, lastModified);
@@ -47,6 +50,14 @@ if (less.env === 'development') {
     }, 1000);
 }
 
+function select(str) {
+    if (!document.querySelectorAll && typeof(jQuery) === "undefined") {
+        log("No selector method found");
+    } else {
+        return (document.querySelectorAll || jQuery).call(document, str);
+    }
+}
+
 function loadStyleSheets(callback) {
     for (var i = 0; i < sheets.length; i++) {
         loadStyleSheet(sheets[i], callback);