diff --git a/loopy/__init__.py b/loopy/__init__.py
index 453b4310339e05861fbe8a5db1d7d89e24dbbc65..7bc45d3b181efa93e675512c9b0f80d4a3b6cd01 100644
--- a/loopy/__init__.py
+++ b/loopy/__init__.py
@@ -1459,7 +1459,8 @@ def register_function_manglers(kernel, manglers):
 
 # {{{ cache control
 
-CACHING_ENABLED = True
+import os
+CACHING_ENABLED = "LOOPY_NO_CACHE" not in os.environ
 
 
 def set_caching_enabled(flag):