diff --git a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/root-info.css b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/root-info.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..335a26efe9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/root-info.css
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+
+.RootPathInfo {
+    margin-top: 1em;
+    display: none;
+}
+
+.RootPathAction {
+    display: block;
+    font-size: 80%;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+}
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/root-info.js b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/root-info.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3188816b54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/root-info.js
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+
+AddOnLoad(function(){
+    var u = GetCookie("PLT_Root."+racket_root_version, null);
+    if (u) {
+        var info = document.getElementById("rootPathInfo");
+        info.style.display = "block";
+    }
+})
+
+function GoToRootPath() {
+    return GotoPLTRoot(racket_root_version, "index.html");
+}
+
+function DisableRootPath() {
+    SetCookie("PLT_Root."+racket_root_version, "");
+
+    var info = document.getElementById("rootPathInfo");
+    info.style.display = "none";
+    
+    return false;
+}
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/utils.rkt b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/utils.rkt
index 0ff4b4f475..dda8bbf597 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/utils.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/private/utils.rkt
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@
 
 ;; the second argument specifies installation/user specific, and if
 ;; it's missing, then it's a page with a single version
-(define (main-page id [installation-specific? '?] #:force-racket-css? [force-racket-css? #f])
+(define (main-page id [installation-specific? '?]
+                   #:force-racket-css? [force-racket-css? #f]
+                   #:show-root-info? [show-root-info? #f])
   (define info (page-info id))
   (define title-string (car info))
   (define root (cadr info))
@@ -54,10 +56,15 @@
     (title #:style (make-style #f (list*
                                    'no-toc
                                    'toc-hidden
-                                   (if (not force-racket-css?)
-                                       null
-                                       (list
-                                        (make-css-addition (collection-file-path "racket.css" "scribble"))))))
+                                   (append
+                                    (if force-racket-css?
+                                        (list (make-css-addition (collection-file-path "racket.css" "scribble")))
+                                        null)
+                                    (if (not show-root-info?)
+                                        null
+                                        (list
+                                         (make-css-addition (collection-file-path "root-info.css" "scribblings/main/private"))
+                                         (make-js-addition (collection-file-path "root-info.js" "scribblings/main/private")))))))
            title-string
            #;
            ;; the "(installation)" part shouldn't be visible on the web, but
@@ -74,6 +81,9 @@
          (front-toc-items up-path)))
   (make-splice `(,page-title
                  ,@toc
+                 ,@(if show-root-info?
+                     (list @script{var racket_root_version = "@(version)"@";"})
+                     '())
                  ,@(if user-doc?
                      (list @script{SetPLTRoot("@(version)", "@up-path")@";"})
                      '()))))
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/search.scrbl b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/search.scrbl
index 43ee0aee26..6492018cd2 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/search.scrbl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/search.scrbl
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #lang scribble/doc
 @(require "private/utils.rkt" "private/make-search.rkt")
 
-@main-page['search #t
-                   ;; "racket.css" needs to be installed for search results:
-                   #:force-racket-css? #t]
+@main-page['search #t]
 
 @make-search[#f]
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/start.scrbl b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/start.scrbl
index 0bebb924dc..fb8e3e01ae 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/start.scrbl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-index/scribblings/main/start.scrbl
@@ -1,16 +1,28 @@
 #lang scribble/doc
-@(require scribble/manual "private/utils.rkt" "private/manuals.rkt")
+@(require scribble/manual
+          scribble/core
+          scribble/html-properties
+          "private/utils.rkt"
+          "private/manuals.rkt")
 
-@main-page['start #t
-                  ;; "racket.css" needs to be installed so it can be shared:
-                  #:force-racket-css? #t]
+@main-page['start #t #:show-root-info? #t]
+
+@(define path-info-style (style "RootPathInfo" (list (attributes '((id . "rootPathInfo"))))))
+@(define go-style (style "RootPathAction" (list (attributes '((onclick . "return GoToRootPath();"))))))
+@(define disable-style (style "RootPathAction" (list (attributes '((onclick . "return DisableRootPath();"))))))
 
 @not-on-the-web{
   @margin-note*{
     This is an installation-specific listing.  Running @exec{raco docs}
     (or @exec{Racket Documentation} on Windows or Mac OS X)
     may open a different page with local and user-specific
-    documentation, including documentation for installed packages.}}
+    documentation, including documentation for installed packages.
+
+    @elem[#:style path-info-style]{Searching or following a
+     ``top'' link will use go to a different starting point that
+     includes user-specific information.
+     @hyperlink["#"]{@elem[#:style go-style]{[Go to user-specific start]}}
+     @hyperlink["#"]{@elem[#:style disable-style]{[Forget user-specific start]}}}}}
 
 @(make-start-page #f)