diff --git a/cms/static/js/base.js b/cms/static/js/base.js
index 98c793de35..0ac9932599 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/base.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/base.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-require(["jquery", "underscore", "gettext", "js/views/feedback_notification", "js/views/feedback_prompt",
+require(["domReady", "jquery", "underscore", "gettext", "js/views/feedback_notification", "js/views/feedback_prompt",
          "jquery.ui", "jquery.timepicker", "jquery.leanModal", "jquery.form", "jquery.smoothScroll"],
-    function($, _, gettext, NotificationView, PromptView) {
+    function(domReady, $, _, gettext, NotificationView, PromptView) {
 
 var $body;
 var $modal;
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ var $newComponentTypePicker;
 var $newComponentTemplatePickers;
 var $newComponentButton;
 
-$(document).ready(function() {
+domReady(function() {
     $body = $('body');
     $modal = $('.history-modal');
     $modalCover = $('.modal-cover');
diff --git a/cms/templates/base.html b/cms/templates/base.html
index df17017bc9..9bb7ae2285 100644
--- a/cms/templates/base.html
+++ b/cms/templates/base.html
@@ -159,9 +159,14 @@ var require = {
             deps: ["coffee/src/ajax_prefix"]
         }
     },
-    // load these automatically
-    deps: ["jquery", "js/base", "coffee/src/main", "coffee/src/logger", "datepair"]
-    // we need "datepair" because it dynamically modifies the page when it is loaded -- yuck!
+    // load jquery automatically
+    deps: ["jquery"],
+    callback: function() {
+        // load other scripts on every page, after jquery loads
+        require(["js/base", "coffee/src/main", "coffee/src/logger", "datepair"]);
+        // we need "datepair" because it dynamically modifies the page
+        // when it is loaded -- yuck!
+    }
 };
 </script>
 <script type="text/javascript" src="${static.url("js/vendor/require.js")}"></script>