diff --git a/components/play-controller/element.js b/components/play-controller/element.js
index a71de2921..53c7895d2 100644
--- a/components/play-controller/element.js
+++ b/components/play-controller/element.js
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ export class MDNPlayController extends LitElement {
   }
 
   clear() {
+    this.runOnChange = true;
     this.initialCode = undefined;
     this.srcPrefix = "";
     this.reset();
diff --git a/components/playground/element.js b/components/playground/element.js
index 9d4d0dc5c..3d1f45ad8 100644
--- a/components/playground/element.js
+++ b/components/playground/element.js
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ export class MDNPlayground extends L10nMixin(LitElement) {
       controller
     ) {
       controller.clear();
+      this._autoRun = true;
       this._storeSession();
       this.requestUpdate();
       const urlWithoutSearch = new URL(location.href);