diff --git a/src/lib/CodapInterface.ts b/src/lib/CodapInterface.ts
index 72b128c..5b334da 100644
--- a/src/lib/CodapInterface.ts
+++ b/src/lib/CodapInterface.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ export interface IConfig {
   preventTopLevelReorg?: boolean;
   preventAttributeDeletion?: boolean;
   allowEmptyAttributeDeletion?: boolean;
+  blockAPIRequestsWhileEditing?: boolean;
   respectEditableItemAttribute?: boolean;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/codap-helper.ts b/src/lib/codap-helper.ts
index 81df052..c420dd0 100644
--- a/src/lib/codap-helper.ts
+++ b/src/lib/codap-helper.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ export class CodapHelper {
       preventTopLevelReorg: true,
       preventAttributeDeletion: false,
       allowEmptyAttributeDeletion: true,
+      blockAPIRequestsWhileEditing: true,
       respectEditableItemAttribute: true,
       dimensions
     };