diff --git a/lib/jasmine-core/boot/boot.js b/lib/jasmine-core/boot/boot.js
index 6ae4dcdb..30b6194f 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine-core/boot/boot.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine-core/boot/boot.js
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@
     getWindowLocation: function() { return window.location; }
   });
 
-  env.catchExceptions(queryString.getParam("catch"));
+  // TODO: move all of catching to raise so we don't break our brains
+  var catchingExceptions = queryString.getParam("catch");
+  env.catchExceptions(typeof catchingExceptions === "undefined" ? true : catchingExceptions);
 
   var htmlReporter = new jasmine.HtmlReporter({
     env: env,