diff --git a/cms/envs/devstack.py b/cms/envs/devstack.py
index 48ffb25bf6..215447d856 100644
--- a/cms/envs/devstack.py
+++ b/cms/envs/devstack.py
@@ -118,7 +118,12 @@ def should_show_debug_toolbar(request):
 FEATURES['MILESTONES_APP'] = True
 
 ########################### ORGANIZATIONS #################################
-FEATURES['ORGANIZATIONS_APP'] = True
+# This is disabled for Devstack Studio for developer convenience.
+# If it were enabled, then users would not be able to create course runs
+# with any arbritrary org slug -- they would have to first make sure that
+# the organization exists in the Organization table.
+# Note that some production environments (such as studio.edx.org) do enable this flag.
+FEATURES['ORGANIZATIONS_APP'] = False
 
 ################################ ENTRANCE EXAMS ################################
 FEATURES['ENTRANCE_EXAMS'] = True