diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-lint-test.yml b/.github/workflows/build-lint-test.yml
index 21062b4a41..43e71a56f1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-lint-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-lint-test.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         react: [16, 18]
-    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/build-lint-test.yml@main
+    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/build-lint-test.yml@always-vr-build
     secrets: inherit
     with:
       artifact-path: pages/lib/static-default
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         react: [16, 18]
-    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/deploy.yml@main
+    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/deploy.yml@always-vr-build
     secrets: inherit
     with:
       artifact-name: dev-pages-react${{ matrix.react }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml b/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml
index 1072c75f0f..7b6a554fa8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   dry-run:
-    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml@main
+    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/dry-run.yml@always-vr-build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/lint-pr.yml
index 3508ea589a..bfcfeda4a3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint-pr.yml
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   dry-run:
-    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/lint-pr.yml@main
+    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/lint-pr.yml@always-vr-build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-gh-notes.yml b/.github/workflows/release-gh-notes.yml
index 5491bc3046..eb9f38e92a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-gh-notes.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-gh-notes.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ permissions:
 
 jobs:
   release:
-    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/release-gh-notes.yml@main
+    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/release-gh-notes.yml@always-vr-build
     secrets: inherit
     with:
       version: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 8f5f8b8e6a..212e28fcae 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ permissions:
 
 jobs:
   release:
-    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/release.yml@main
+    uses: cloudscape-design/actions/.github/workflows/release.yml@always-vr-build
     secrets: inherit
     with:
       skip-test: true
diff --git a/build-tools/tasks/generate-environment.js b/build-tools/tasks/generate-environment.js
index 5b0ee7291b..458c2575bf 100644
--- a/build-tools/tasks/generate-environment.js
+++ b/build-tools/tasks/generate-environment.js
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ const { writeFile } = require('../utils/files');
 const themes = require('../utils/themes');
 const workspace = require('../utils/workspace');
 
+const ALWAYS_VISUAL_REFRESH = process.env.ALWAYS_VISUAL_REFRESH === 'true';
+
+console.log('DEBUG', { ALWAYS_VISUAL_REFRESH, processValue: process.env.ALWAYS_VISUAL_REFRESH });
+
 function writeEnvironmentFile(theme) {
   const filepath = 'internal/environment';
   const values = {
@@ -13,7 +17,7 @@ function writeEnvironmentFile(theme) {
     GIT_SHA: workspace.gitCommitVersion,
     THEME: theme.name,
     SYSTEM: 'core',
-    ALWAYS_VISUAL_REFRESH: !!theme.alwaysVisualRefresh,
+    ALWAYS_VISUAL_REFRESH: !!theme.alwaysVisualRefresh || ALWAYS_VISUAL_REFRESH,
   };
   const basePath = path.join(theme.outputPath, filepath);