diff --git a/crates/call/src/call.rs b/crates/call/src/call.rs
index bdc402ee77..ca0d06beb6 100644
--- a/crates/call/src/call.rs
+++ b/crates/call/src/call.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use audio::Audio;
 use call_settings::CallSettings;
 use channel::ChannelId;
-use client::{proto, ClickhouseEvent, Client, TelemetrySettings, TypedEnvelope, User, UserStore};
+use client::{
+    proto, ClickhouseEvent, Client, TelemetrySettings, TypedEnvelope, User, UserStore,
+    ZED_ALWAYS_ACTIVE,
+};
 use collections::HashSet;
 use futures::{future::Shared, FutureExt};
 use gpui::{
@@ -356,12 +359,13 @@ impl ActiveCall {
         project: Option<&ModelHandle<Project>>,
         cx: &mut ModelContext<Self>,
     ) -> Task<Result<()>> {
-        self.location = project.map(|project| project.downgrade());
-        if let Some((room, _)) = self.room.as_ref() {
-            room.update(cx, |room, cx| room.set_location(project, cx))
-        } else {
-            Task::ready(Ok(()))
+        if project.is_some() || !*ZED_ALWAYS_ACTIVE {
+            self.location = project.map(|project| project.downgrade());
+            if let Some((room, _)) = self.room.as_ref() {
+                return room.update(cx, |room, cx| room.set_location(project, cx));
+            }
         }
+        Task::ready(Ok(()))
     }
 
     fn set_room(
diff --git a/crates/client/src/client.rs b/crates/client/src/client.rs
index d28c1ab1a9..5eae700404 100644
--- a/crates/client/src/client.rs
+++ b/crates/client/src/client.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ lazy_static! {
         .and_then(|v| v.parse().ok());
     pub static ref ZED_APP_PATH: Option<PathBuf> =
         std::env::var("ZED_APP_PATH").ok().map(PathBuf::from);
+    pub static ref ZED_ALWAYS_ACTIVE: bool =
+        std::env::var("ZED_ALWAYS_ACTIVE").map_or(false, |e| e.len() > 0);
 }
 
 pub const ZED_SECRET_CLIENT_TOKEN: &str = "618033988749894";
diff --git a/script/start-local-collaboration b/script/start-local-collaboration
index a5836ff776..0c4e60f9c3 100755
--- a/script/start-local-collaboration
+++ b/script/start-local-collaboration
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ position_2=${half_width},${y}
 
 # Authenticate using the collab server's admin secret.
 export ZED_STATELESS=1
+export ZED_ALWAYS_ACTIVE=1
 export ZED_ADMIN_API_TOKEN=secret
 export ZED_SERVER_URL=http://localhost:8080
 export ZED_WINDOW_SIZE=${half_width},${height}