diff --git a/static/js/theme.js b/static/js/theme.js
index 58567bcd02..2ce5a78c48 100644
--- a/static/js/theme.js
+++ b/static/js/theme.js
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ var touchsupport = ('ontouchstart' in window) || (navigator.maxTouchPoints > 0)
 
 var formelements = 'button, datalist, fieldset, input, label, legend, meter, optgroup, option, output, progress, select, textarea';
 
+// rapidoc: #280 disable broad document syntax highlightning
+window.Prism = window.Prism || {};
+Prism.manual = true;
+
 // PerfectScrollbar
 var psc;
 var psm;